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New York State Museum Bulletin 

Application pending for admission as second-class matter at the Post OflSce at Albany, N. Y. 
under the act of August 24, 1912 

Published monthly by The University of the State of New York 



No. 184 



ALBANY, N. Y. 



April i, 1916 



The University of tlie State of New York 

New York State Museum 

John M. Clarke, Director 

THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 

BY 
ARTHUR C. PARKER 



PAGE 

The Iroquois constitution 7 

The Dekanawida legend ........ 14 

The Code of Dekanahwideh 61 

Origin of the confederation of the 

Five Nations 65 

The condolence ceremony no 

The Hiawatha tradition 114 

Appendix A: The Passamaquoddy 

wampum records 119 



PAGE 

Appendix B : Sketches of an Indian 
Council, 1846. . 126 

Appendix C: Minutes of the Six 
Nations Council of 1839., 133 

Appendix D: Minutes of the Coun- 
cil of the Six Nations, upon the 
Cattaraugus reservation 144 

Appendix E: Certain Iroquois tree 
myths and symbols 1 52 

Index 157 



M6or-Jli5-iSoo 



ALBANY 

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 
J916 



Monograph 



' .tnrz'i 



THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

Regents of the University 
With years when terms expire 

1926 Pliny T. Sexton LL.B. LL.D. Chancellor - - Palmyra 

1927 Albert Vander Veer M.D. M.A. Ph.D. LL.D. 

Vice Chancellor Albany 

1922 Chester S. Lord M.A. LL.D. ----- Brooklyn 

1918 William Nottingham M.A. Ph.D. LL.D. - -Syracuse 
192 1 Francis M. Carpenter ------- Mount Kisco 

1923 Abram L Elkus LL.B. D.C.L. ----- New York 

1924 Adelbert Moot LL.D. ------- Buffalo 

1925 Charles B. Alexander M.A. LL.B. LL.D. 

Litt.D. ----•------_ Tuxedo 

1919 John Moore ---------- Elmira 

1928 Walter Guest Kellogg B.A. ----- Ogdensburg 
19 1 7 William Berri -_-__ ___ Brooklyn 

1920 James Byrne B.A. L.L.B. ----- New York 

President of the University 
and Commissioner of Education 

John H. Finley M.A. LL.D. L.H.D. 

Deputy Commissioner and Assistant Commissioner for Elementary Education 

Thomas E. Finegan M.A. Pd.D. LL.D. 

Assistant Commissioner for Higher Education 

Augustus S. Downing M.A. L.H.D. LL.D. 

Assistant Commissioner for Secondary Education 

Charles F. Wheelock B.S. LL.D. 

Director of State Library 

James I. Wyer, Jr, M.L.S. 

Director of Science and State Museum 

John M. Clarke Ph.D. D.Sc. LL.D. 

Chiefs and Directors of Divisions 

Administration, George M. Wiley M.A. 
Agricultural and Industrial Education, Arthur D. Dean D.Sc, 

Director 
Archives and History, James A. Holden B.A., Director 
Attendance, James D. Sullivan 
Educational Extension, William R. Watson B.S. 
Examinations, Harlan H. Horner M.A. 
Inspections, Frank H. Wood M.A. 
Law, Frank B. Gilbert B.A. 
Library School, Frank K. Walter M.A. M.L.S. 
School Libraries, Sherman Williams Pd.D. 
Statistics, Hiram C. Case 
Visual Instruction, Alfred W. Abrams Ph.B. 



The University of the State of Nezv York 

Science Department, July 12, ipi^ 

Dr John H. Finley 

President of the University 
Sir: I beg to communicate to you herewith and to recommend 
for pubhcation as a bulletin of the State Museum, a manuscript 
with accompanying illustrations, entitled The Constitution of the 
Five Nations, which has been prepared by Arthur C. Parker, the 
Archeologist of the State Museum. 

Very respectfully 

John M. Clarke 

Director 

THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT 

Approved for publication this ijth day of March ipij 




President of the University 



D. of D. 
JUL 17 1916 




^ T^ lir "^ 



Fold-out 
Placeholder 



lis fold-out is being digitized, and will be inserted at a 
future date. 



New York State Museum Bulletin 

Application pending for entry as second-class matter at the Post Office at Albany, N. Y., 
under the act of August 24, 1912 

Published monthly by The University of the State of New York 
No. 184 ALBANY, N. Y. April i, 1916 

The University of the State of New York 
NeAv York State Museum 

John M. Clarke, Director 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 

OR 
THE IROQUOIS BOOK OF THE GREAT LAW 

BY 

ARTHUR C. PARKER 



THE IROQUOIS CONSTITUTION 
The constitution of the Iroquois League is known to the Iroquois 
as the Great Binding Law, or the Great Immutable Law. Their 
term for it is Ne" Gayanesha"gowa. It was transmitted orally 
from one generation to another through certain of the lords or 
sachems of the confederacy who had made it their business to 
learn it. Not until recently have the Iroquois attempted to put 
their code in written form. For many generations its knowledge 
has been preserved by a collection of wampum belts and strings, 
each of which served to recall each law or regulation. Many of 
the belts and strings became lost or destroyed, and fearing a total 
destruction of their ancient archives, the Six Nations^ of New 
York Indians in 1898 elected The University of the State of New 
York the official custodian of their wampums. The University 
accepted the charge and the Legislature passed suitable laws 
governing the custody of the wampums. In 1908 the Director of 
the State Museum was proclaimed the keeper of the wampums 
by Sa-ha-whi. president of the Six Nations. 



1 The Five Nations became the Six Nations, with the admission of the 
Tuscarora in 1724. 



6 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The Iroquois constitution is mentioned by both Morgan and 
Hale, but neither seems to have been able to make a transcript 
and translation of it. All the Iroquois nations were acquainted 
with it and extracts from the law are found in many of the speeches 
of their sachems, as recorded by historians, notably the French 
explorers and Colden. 

The version of the constitution now held authentic by the Iroquois 
of New York and Ontario, embraces a narrative of the events 
in the lives of Hiawatha and Dekanawida that lead up to its founda- 
tion. Its special interest lies in the fact that it is an attempt of 
the Iroquois themselves to explain their own civic and social system. 
It is therefore an invaluable guide to many interesting branches of 
Iroquois ethnology. Many of the facts contained in this document 
are familiar to students, but that they formed a part of a definite 
system of law will perhaps be new. Several of the wampum belts 
in the New York State Museum are constitutional belts or 
memorials. 

Originally the Five Nations of Iroquois were similar to other 
Indian tribes or bands — independent bodies with similar dialects 
and similar customs but with no political coherence. Each man 
and each tribe to itself, was the rule. Often the individual nations 
warred with one another, and with external enemies pressing them 
from all quarters they found themselves in a precarious situation. 
The very peril in which they lived developed their strategic ability 
and fostered diplomacy. It likewise produced leaders and finally 
the great lawgiver who should bring about peace and unity and 
make the Iroquois the " Indians of Indian," the " Romans of the 
New World." Hale referred to Hiawatha as the " lawgiver of the 
Stone age "^ but Hiawatha does not deserve the title. He was only 
the spokesman of a greater mind. The Mohawk nation recognizes 
in Dekanawida its great culture hero and the founder of its civic 
system, giving Haiyentwatha (Hiawatha) a second place. Nearly 
all authorities among the other nations of the five agree in this 
and attribute to Dekanawida the establishment of the Great Peace. 
The prefatory articles of the Great Immutable Law recognize him 
as such and represent him as saying: 

I am Dekanawideh and with the Five Nations' confederate lords I 
plant the Tree of the Great Peace. I plant it in your territory Adodarhoh 
and the Onondaga Nation, in the territory of you who are fire keepers. 

I name the tree the Tree of the Great Long Leaves. Under the shade 
of this Tree of the Great Peace we spread the soft, white, feathery down 
of the globe thistle as seats for you, Adodarhoh and your cousin lords. 



1 Proc. Amer. Ass'n. Adv. Sci., 30 :324. 



THE C()XSTITUTIO^ OF THE EI\'E NATIONS 9 

. . . There shall you sit and watch the council fire of the Confederacy 
of the Five Nations. 

Roots have spread out from the Tree of the Great Peace . . 
and the name of these roots is the Great White Roots of Peace. If any 
man of any nation outside of the Five Nations shall show a desire to 
obey the laws of the Great Peace . . . they may trace the roots to 
their source . . . and they shall be welcomed to take shelter beneath 
the Tree of the Long Leaves. 

The smoke of the Confederate council fire shall ever ascend and shall 
pierce the sky so that all nations may discover the central council fire of 
the Great Peace. 

L Dekanawideh. and the confederate lords now uproot the tallest pine 
tree and into the cavity thereby made we cast all weapons of war. Into 
the depths of the earth, down into the deep underearth currents of water 
tlowino; into unknown regions, we cast all weapons of strife. We bury 
them from sight forever and plant again the tree. Thus shall all Great 
Peace be established and hostilities shall no longer be known between 
the Five Nations but only peace to a united people. 

As one goes further into the unique document, the method by 
which universal peace is to be established is revealed. All nations 
were to sit beneath the peace tree and acknowledge the imperial 
regency of the Five Nations' council. To the Five Nations this 
seemed a very simple thing for they called themselves Ongweoweh, 
Original Men, a term that implied their racial superiority. Thus 
to them it seemed quite natural that other nations should ac- 
knowledge their right to rule. They never doubted the justness 
of their claim or saw that it possibly could be disputed. With them 
it was the basis for universal action. Other nations were inclined 
to dispute that the Iroquois were inherently superior and naturally 
rebelled at the idea of submission, even though it might be for 
their own ultimate benefit. 

From tribe to tribe, tradition shows, ^ the emissaries of the 
Great Peace went carrying with them the messages in their wam- 
pum strands, and inviting delegates to sit beneath the Peace Tree 
and " clasp their arms about it " and to discuss the advantages of 
an alliance. 

The political success of the Iroquois as a result of their system 
gave them phenomenal strength and likewise excited widespread 
jealousy. Thus the Iroquois found themselves plunged in a war 
for existence and without friends to call upon. 

How a government calling itself the Great Peace provided for 

war is shown in the part of the great immutable law called " Skana- 

watih's Laws of Peace and War." Extracts from these laws 

follow : 

When the proposition to establish the Great Peace is made to a foreign 
nation it shall be done in mutual council. The nation is to be persuaded 



1 See. for example, The Passamaquoddy Wampum Records by J. D. Prince, 
page 483, Proc. Amer. Phil. Soc, v. 36. Also Appendix, page 119 of this 
bulletin. 



lO NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

by reason and urged to come into the Great Peace. If the Five Nations 
fail . . . after a third council ... the war captain of the 
Five Nations shall address the head chief of the rebellious nation and 
request him three times to accept the Great Peace. If refusal steadfastly 
follows the war captain shall let a bunch of white lake shells fall from 
his outstretched hand and shall bound quickly forward and club the 
offending chief to death. War shall thereby be declared &nd the war 
captain shall have his men at his back to support him in any emergency. 
War shall continue until won by the Five Nations. . . . Then shall 
the Five Nations seek to establish the Great Peace by a conquest of the 
rebellious nation. 

When peace shall have been established by the termination of the 
war . . . then the war captain shall cause all weapons of war to be 
taken from the nation. Then shall the Great Peace be established and 
the nation shall observe all the rules of the Great Peace for all time to 
come. 

Whenever a foreign nation is conquered or has by their own free will 
accepted the Great Peace, their own system of internal government may 
continue so far as is consistent but they must cease all strife with other' 
nations. 

In this manner and under these provisions and others every 
rebelHoiis tribe or nation, almost without exception, was either 
exterminated or absorbed. The Erie, the Neutral, the Huron, the 
Andaste and other cognate tribes of the Iroquoian stock were broken 
up and the scattered bands or survivors settled in the numerous 
Iroquois towns to forget in time their birth nation and to be known 
forever after only as Iroquois. The law read, " Henceforth let no 
one so adopted mention the name of his birth nation. To do so 
will hasten the end of the Great Peace." The Lenni Lenape or 
Delaware, the Nanticoke, the broken bands of the Minsi and the 
Shawne, the Brothertown and other Algonquian tribes yielded to 
the armed persuasions to accept the Great Peace ; likewise did the 
Tutelo and Catawba of the eastern Siouan stock, and the Choctaw 
of the Muskoghean yield, and to that action is due the fact that 
they have descendants today. 

The Iroquois policy of adopting captives led to the mixture of 

widely scattered stocks. The Iroquois therefore became an ethnic 

group of composite elements. Thus from the ideas of universal 

peace and brotherhood grew universal intermarriage, modified of 

course by clan laws. 

I According to the great immutable law the Iroquois confederate 

I council was to consist of fifty rodiyaner (civil chiefs) and was to 

1 be divided into three bodies, namely, the older brothers, the Mohawk 

' and the Seneca ; the younger brothers, the Cayuga and the Oneida ; 

and the fire keepers, the Onondaga. Each brotherhood debated a 

question separately and reported to the fire keepers, who referred 

the matter back and ordered a unanimous report. If the two 

I brotherhoods still disagreed the fire keepers had the casting vote. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS II 

If, however, the brotherhoods agreed and their decision was not in 
accord with the wishes of the fire keepers, the fire keepers could 
only confirm the decision, for absolute unanimity was the law and 
required for the passage of any question. Provisions to break 
speedily any deadlock were provided. All the work of the council 
was done without an executive head, save a temporary speaker 
appointed by acclamation. Adodarhoh, in spite of his high title, was 
only the moderator of the fire keepers. 

These " lords " or civil chiefs were nominated by certain noble 
women in whose families the titles were hereditary; the nomina- 
tions were confirmed by popular councils both of men and of women 
and finally by the confederate council. Women thus had great 
power for not only could they nominate their rulers but also depose 
them for incompetency in office. Here, then, we find the right of 
popular nomination, the right of recall and of woman suffrage, all 
flourishing in the old America of the Red Man and centuries before 
it became the clamor of the new America of the white invader. 
Who now shall call Indians and Iroquois savages ! 

Not only were there popular councils to check an overambitious 
government, but both the men and the women had in their " war 
chief " a sort of aboriginal public service commissioner who had 
aiithority to voice their will before the council. Men of worth who 
had won their way into the hearts of the people were elected pine 
tree chiefs with voice but no vote in the governing body. The 
rights of every man were provided for and all things done for the 
promotion of the Great Peace. 

Among the interesting things in this Iroquois constitution are 
the provisions for the official symbols. Many of these symbols, such 
as the point within a circle, the bundle of arrows, the watchful 
eagle, are described in detail. The fifteenth string of the Tree of 
the Long Leaves section, for example, reads : 

" Five arrows shall be bound together very strongly and each 
arrow shall represent one nation. As the five arrows are strongly 
bound, this shall svmbolize the union of the nations. . . ." 



This reference to the arrows bound together was quoted by King 
Hendrick in 1755 in his talk with Sir William Johnson. 

Perhaps a more striking paragraph to students of Indian history 
will be the reference to a certain wampum belt : 

"A broad, dark belt of wampum . . . having a white heart 
in the center on either side of which arc two white squares all 
connected with the heart by white rows shall be the emblem of the 
unity of the Five Nations. The white heart in the middle . . . 



L 



12 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

means the Onondaga nation . . . and it also means that the 
heart of the Five Nations is single in its loyalty to the Great 
Peace. . . ." 

This belt is sometimes called the Hiawatha belt and is one of the 
most valuable Iroquois belts now extant. It is now on exhibition 
in the Congressional Library. 

The Great Peace as a governmental system was an almost ideal 
one for the stage of culture with which it was designed to cope. I 
think it will be found to be the greatest ever devised by barbaric 
man on any continent. By adhering to it the Five Nations became 
the dominant native power east of the Mississippi and during the 
colonial times exercised an immense influence in determining the 
fate of English civilization on the continent. They, as allies of the 
British, fought for it and destroyed all French hopes for 
colonization. 

The authors of the great immutable law gave the Iroquois two 
great culture heroes, heroes almost without equal in American 
Indian annals. Through the law as a guiding force and through 
the heroes as ideals the Iroquois have persisted as a people, pre- 
served their national identity and much of their native culture and 
lore. Today in their various bodies they number more than 16,000 
souls. This is a remarkable fact when it is considered that they are 
entirely surrounded by a dominant culture whose encroachments 
are persistent and unrelenting in the very nature of things. 

The Canadian Iroquois indeed govern themselves by the laws 
contained in these codes, proving their utility even in modern days. 

The two principal manuscripts that form the basis of this work 
were found in the Six Nations Reservation, Ontario, Canada, in 
1910. 

The first manuscript was a lengthy account of the Dekanawida 
legend and an account of the Confederate Iroquois laws. This ma- 
terial has been brought together by Seth Newhouse, a Mohawk, who 
has expended a large amount of time and given the subject a lengthy 
study. Flis account written in Indian English was submitted to 
Albert Cusick, a New York Onondaga-Tuscarora, for review and 
criticism. Mr Cusick had long been an authority on Iroquois law 
and civic rites, and had been a chief informant for Horatio Hale, 
William M. Beauchamp and in several instances for the present 
writer. Mr Cusick was employed for more than a month in cor- 
recting the Newhouse manuscript until he believed the form in 
which it is now presented fairly correct and at least as accurate as 
a free translation could be made. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS I3 

The second manuscript was compiled by the chiefs of the Six 
Nations council and in the form here published has been reviewed 
and corrected by several of their own number, including Chiefs 
John Gibson, Jacob Johnson and John William Elliott. The official 
copy was made by Hilton Hill, a Seneca, then employed by the 
Dominion superintendent for the Six Nations. It has been reviewed 
and changes were suggested by Albert Cusick. 

The Newhouse code was divided into three sections. These were, 
" The Tree of the Long Leaves," " The Emblematical Union Com- 
pact," and " Skanawatih's Law of Peace and War," Each law 
was associated with a wampum belt or string of wampum beads. 
The string number and the section of the code from which it is 
extracted is indicated after each law, as given in the text. 

Li examining this code of Iroquois law it will be noted that no 
reference is made in the Canadian codes to the " Long House of 
the Five Nations." Various reasons are assigned for this. Mr 
Newhouse cut out all reference to it from his original manuscript 
because some of the older chiefs said that Handsome Lake, the 
destroyer of the old religious system, had successfully associated 
his religious teachings with the Long House. The force of this 
fact is apparent when we learn that a follower of the Handsome 
Lake religion is called among other names, Ganun'sisne'ha. " Long 
House Lover." Another reason is that the historic Long House 
territory is in New York State, and that the Ontario Iroquois who 
left New York after the Revolution to cling to the British, dislike 
any reference to their former habitation that seems to bind them 
to it. The Dekanawida code provides a refuge for the confederacy 
in distress, and in Canada they believe they have found " the great 
elm " under which they may gather in safety to continue their 
national existence. 

In presenting these documents the original orthography has been 
retained. The only attempt to record Iroquois names and words 
phonetically is in the notes. This will account for some variations 
in spelling. The Mohawk and Onondaga writers in their manu- 
scripts used Ayonhwatha and Hayonhwatha interchangeably and 
there are other variations. 



14 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



THE DEKANAWIDA LEGEND^ 
DEKANAWIDA'S BIRTH AND JOURNEY 

North of the beautiful lake (Ontario) in the land of the Crooked 
Tongues, was a long winding bay and at a certain spot was the 
Huron town, Ka-ha-nah-yenh. Near by was the great hill, Ti-ro- 
nat-ha-ra-da-donh. In the village lived a good woman who had a 
virgin daughter. Now strangely this virgin conceived and her 
mother knew that she was about to bear a child. The daughter 
about this time went into a long sleep and dreamed that her child 
should be a son whom she should name Dekanawida. The mes- 
senger in the dream told her that he should become a great man 
and that he should go among the Flint people to live and that he 
should also go to the Many Hill Nation and there raise up the Great 
Tree of Peace. It was true as had been said the virgin gave birth 
to a boy and the grandmother greatly disliked him and she rebuked 
her daughter. 

" You refuse to tell me the father of the child," she said, " and 
now how do you know that great calamity will not befall us, and 
our nation? You must drown the child." 

So then the mother took the child to the bay and chopped a hole 
in the ice where she customarily drew water and thrust him in, but 
when night came the child was found at his mother's bosom. So 
then the mother took the child again and threw him in the bay 
but at night the child returned. Then the third time the grand- 
mother herself took the child and drowned him but in the morning 
the child nestled as before on its mother's own bosom. 

So the grandmother marveled that the child, her grandson, could 
not be drowned. Then she said to her daughter : 

" Mother, now nurse your child for he may become an important 
man. He can not be drowned, we know, and you have borne him 
without having marriage with any man. Now I have never heard 
of such an occurrence nor has the world known of it before." 

Beginning with that time the mother took great care of her child 
and nursed him. She named him Dekanawida in accord with the 
instruction of her dream. 

The child rapidly grew and was remarkably strong and healthy. 
His appearance was noticed for its good aspect and his face was 
most handsome. 

When Dekanawida had grown to manhood he was greatly abused 



From the Newhonse version. 



Plate 2 



Great Belt 




the Lonfedcracy symbolizino 
ever growing trc. 



ha"go\va as an 



THE COXSTITL-TIOX OF TIIK FIVK NATION'S I3 

l)y the liuron people because of liis handsome face and his good 
mind. He was always honest and always told what he believed 
was right. Nevertheless he was a peculiar man and his people did 
not understand him. 

Many things conspired to drive him away for the Crooked 
Tongues had no love for such a man. Their hearts were bitter 
against a man who loved not war better than all things. 

After a journey by canoe across the lake he came into the hunt- 
ing territory of the Flint Nation. He journeyed on to the lower 
fall of the river of the Flint Nation and made a camp a short way 
from the fall on the flat land above it. He sat beneath a tall tree 
and smoked his pipe in quiet meditation. 

A man of the Flints passed by and seeing the fire and the 
stranger approached him cautiously to discover what weapon he 
bore, if any. Carefully the man of the Flint reconnoitered but 
saw no weapon, but only the stranger quietly smoking. Returning 
to the town a short distance away the presence of the odd stranger 
was reported. Then the chiefs and their men went out and assem- 
bled about the man who smoked. One of the head men was dele- 
gated to question the stranger and so he asked " From whence 
came you?" 

" I am from Ka-ka-na-yenh," the stranger replied. 

" I am of the Wyandots, whom you call the Crooked Tongues 
because our speech is slightly different," answered the stranger, 
' My mother is a virgin woman." 

" Then," said the speaker, " By what name are you known?" 

" I am Dekanawidah, so named because my virgin mother 
dreamed that it should be so and no one else shall ever be named 
by this name." 

" What brought you here to us," asked the speaker. 

So then Dekanawidah answered. " The Great Creator from 
whom we all are descended sent me to establish the Great Peace 
among you. No longer shall you kill one another and nations shall 
cease warring upon each other. Such things are entirely evil and 
he, your Maker, forbids it. Peace and comfort are better than war 
and misery for a nation's welfare." 

Then answered the speaker of the Flints, "All that you say is 
surely true and we are not able to contradict it. We must have 
proof, however, before we submit ourselves to you whereby we 
may know that you indeed possess rightful power to establish the 
Great Peace." 



l6 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

So answered Dekanawida, " I am able to demonstrate my power 
for I am the messenger of the Creator and he truly has given me 
my choice of the manner of my death." / 

" Choose then," said the speaker, " a manner of destruction for 
we are ready to destroy you." Dekanawida replied, " By the side 
of the falls at the edge of a precipice stands a tall tree. I will 
climb the tree and seat myself in the topmost branches. Then shall 
you cut down the tree and I shall fall into the depths below. Will 
not that destroy me ? " 

Then said the speaker, " Let us proceed at once."' 

Dekanawida ascended the tree and it was chopped down. A 
multitude of people saw him fall into the chasm and plunge into 
the water. So they were satisfied that he was surely drowned. 
Night came but Dekanawida did not appear and thus were the 
people sure of his death, and then were they satisfied. 

The next rnorning the warriors saw strange smoke arising from 
the smoke hole of an empty cabin. They approached cautiously and 
peering in the side of the wall where the bark was loosened they 
saw Dekanawidah. He was alive and was not a ghost and he was 
cooking his morning meal. 

So the watchers reported their discovery and then were the 
chiefs and people truly convinced that indeed Dekanawidah might 
establish the Great Peace. >•. \ 

THE TROUBLED NATIONS 

The Ongwe-oweh had fought long and bravely. So long had 
they fought that they became lustful for war and many times 
Endeka-Gakwa, the Sun, came out of the east to find them fighting. 
It was thus because the Ongwe-oweh were so successful that they 
said the Sun loved war and gave them power. 

All the Ongwe-oweh fought other nations sometimes together and 
sometimes singly and, ah-gi ! ofttimes they fought among them- 
selves. The nation of the Flint Ijad little sympathy for the Nation 
of the Great Hill, and sometimes' they raided one another's settle- 
ments. Thus did brothers and Ongwe-oweh fight. The nation of 
the Sunken Pole fought the Nation of the Flint and hated them, 
and the Nation of the Sunken Pole was Ongwe. 

Because of bitter jealousy and love of bloodshed sometimes towns 
would send their young men against the young men of another 
town to practise them in fighting. 

Even in his own town a warrior's own neighbor might be his 
enemy and it was not safe to roam about at night when Soi-ka- 
Gakwa, our Grandmother, the Moon, was hidden. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 17 

Everywhere there was peril and everywhere mourning. Men 
were ragged with sacrifice and- the women scarred with the flints, 
so everywhere there was misery. Feuds with outer nations, feuds 
with brother nations, feuds of sister towns and feuds of famiHes 
and of clans made every warrior a stealthy man who liked to kill. 
Then in those days there was no great law. Our founder had 
not yet come to create peace and give united strength to the Real 
Men, the Ongwe-oweh. 

In those same days the Onondagas had no peace. A man's life 
was valued as nothing. For any slight offence a man or woman 
was killed by his enemy and in this manner feuds started between 
families and clans. At night none dared leave their doorways lest 
they be struck down by an enemy's war club. Such was the con- 
dition when there was no Great Law. 

South of the Onondaga town lived an evil-minded man. His 
lodge was in a swale and his nest was made of bulrushes. His body 
was distorted by seven crooks and his long tangled locks were 
adorned by writhing living serpents. Moreover, this monster was 
a devourer of raw meat, even of human flesh. He was also a master 
of wizardry and by his magic he destroyed men but he could not 
be destroyed. Adodarhoh was the name of the evil man. 

Notwithstanding the evil character of Adadarhoh the people of 
Onondaga, the Nation of Many Hills, obeyed his commands and 
though it cost many lives they satisfied his insane whims, so much 
did they fear him for his sorcery. 

The time came, however, when the Onondaga people could endure 
him no longer. A council was called to devise a way to pacify him 
and to entreat him to cease his evil ways. Hayonwatha called the 
council for he had many times sought to clear the mind of Ado- 
darhoh and straighten his crooked body. So then the council was 
held in the house of Hayontawatha. It was decided that half the 
people should go by boat across the creek where it widens and 
that others should skirt the shore. Adodarhoh was not in his nest 
in the swale but in a new spot across the wide place in the creek. 

The boats started and the people walked. From the bushes that 
overhung the shore a loud voice sounded. " Stand quickly and 
look behind you for a storm will overwhelm you." 

In dismay the people arose in their canoes and turned about. 
As they did so the canoes overturned and the men were plunged 
into the water and many were drowned. A few escaped and then 
all survivors returned to the village. So had Adodarhoh frustrated 
the attempt to meet with him. 



l8 NEW YORK STATE IMUSEUM 

Again the people prepared to conciliate Adodarho. Three times 
they agreed to attempt the undertaking. So on the second occasion 
they go by canoe and by land, those who go by canoe follow the 
shore and those who go by land walk on the pebbles close to the 
water's edge. 

Again the cunning Adodarho sees them and calling down Hagoks 
he shook him, and the people in a wild rush scramble for the 
feathers, for the plumes of Hagoks are most beautiful and men are 
proud when their heads are adorned with them. There is a tumult 
and blows are struck. Evil feelings arise and in anger the people 
return to the village still contending. The mission of conciliation 
is forgotten. 

The next day Ayonhwatha called the people to their promise and 
for the third time to attempt a council with Adodarho. Moreover, 
they promised to obey every instruction and listen neither to a voice 
outside nor an omen nor any commotion. 

Another council was held in the lodge of a certain great dreamer. 
He said, " I have dreamed that another shall prevail. He shall come 
from the north and pass to the east. Hayonwhatha shall meet him 
there in the Mohawk country and the two together shall prevail. 
Hayonwhatha must not remain with us but must go from us to the 
Flint land people." 

So when the journey across the lake was attempted there was a 
division and the dreamer's council prevailed. 

Then the dreamer held two councils and those who believed in 
him conspired to employ Ohsinoh, a famous shaman. 

Hayonwhatha had seven daughters whom he loved and in whom 
he took great pride. While they lived the conspirators knew he 
would not depart. With the daughters dead they knew the crushing 
sorrow would sever every tie that bound him to Onondaga. Then 
would he be free to leave and in thinking of the welfare of the 
people forget his own sorrow. 

Hayonwhatha could not call the people together for they refused 
further to listen to his voice. The dreamer's council had prevailed. 

At night Osinoh climbed a tree overlooking his lodge and sat on a 
large limb. Filling his mouth with clay he imitated the sound of 
a screech owl. Calling the name of the youngest daughter he sang: 

" Unless you marry Osinoh 
You will surely die, -whoo-hoo ! " 

Then he came down and went to his own home. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS I9 

In three days the maiden strangely died. Hayonwhatha was dis- 
consolate and sat sitting with his head bowed in his hands. He 
mourned, but none came to comfort him. 

In like manner five other daughters passed away and the grief 
of Hayonwhatha was extreme. 

Clansmen of the daughters then went to the lodge of Hayon- 
whatha to watch, for they knew nothing of Osinoh's sorcery. 
They gathered close against the large trees and in the shadows of 
bushes. The clansmen suspected some evil treachery and were 
there to discover it. 

There was no moon in the sky when Osinoh came. Cautiously 
he came from habit but he was not afraid. He drove his staflf in 
the ground, he breathed loud like a magic totem animal snorting 
and then he climbed the tree. He spat the clay about the tree to 
imitate the screech owl and as he did he said : " Si-twit, si-twit, 
si-twit." Then he sang: 

" Unless you marry Osinoh 
You shall surely die, whoo-hoo ! " 

The morning came: and Osinoh descended. As he touched the 
ground a clansman shot an arrow and transfixed him. Prostrate 
fell Osinoh and the clansman rushed at him with a club. 

Osinoh looked up. " You are unable to club me," he said. " Your 
arm has no power at all. It weakens. Today I shall recover from 
this wound. It is of no purpose to injure me." 

It was true indeed ; the clansman could not lift the club to kill 
Osinoh. Then Osinoh arose and went home and in three days the 
daughter died. So perished all by the evil magic arts of Osinoh. 

The grief of Hayonwhatha was terrible. He threw himself 
about as if tortured and yielding to the pain. No one came near 
him so awful was his sorrow. Nothing would console him and his 
mind was shadowed with the thoughts of his heavy sorrow. 

" I shall cast myself away, I shall bury myself in the forest, I 
shall become a woodland wanderer," he said. Thus he expressed 
his desire to depart. Then it was known that he would go to an- 
other nation. 

Hayonwhatha " split the heavens," Watanwhakacia, when he de- 
parted and his skies were rent asunder. 

Toward the south he went and at night he camped on the moun- 
tain. This was the first day of his journey. On the second day 
he descended and camped at the base of the hill. On the third day 



20 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

he journeyed onward and when evening came he camped in a hick- 
ory grove. This he named O-nea-no-ka-res-geh, and it was on 
the morning he came to a place where round jointed rushes grew. 
He paused as he saw them and made three strings of them and 
when he had built a fire he said : " This would I do if I found 
anyone burdened with grief even as I am. I would console them 
for they would be covered with night and wrapped in darkness. 
This w^ould I lift with words of condolence and these strands of 
beads would become words with which I would address them." 

So at this place he stayed that night and he called the spot O-hon- 
do-gon-wa, meaning Rush-land. 

When daylight came he wandered on again and altering the 
course of his journey turned to the east. At night he came to a 
group of small lakes and upon one he saw a flock of ducks. So 
many were there and so closely together did they swim that they 
seemed like a raft. 

" If I am to be truly royaneh (noble)," he said aloud to himself, 
" I shall here discover my power." So then he spoke aloud and 
said: "Oh you who are 'floats' lift up the water and permit me 
to pass over the bottom of the lake dryshod." 

In a compact body the ducks flew upward suddenly and swiftly, 
lifting the water with them. Thus did he walk down the shore and 
upon the bottom of the lake. There he noticed lying in layers the 
empty shells of the water snail, some shells white, and others pur- 
ple. Stooping down he filled a pouch of deer skin with them, and 
then passed on to the other shore. Then did the ducks descend 
and replace the water. 

It was here that Hayonwhatha desired for the first time to eat. 
He then killed three ducks and roasted them. This was the evening 
of the fifth day. 

In the morning he ate the cold meat of the roasted ducks and 
resumed his journey. This was the sixth day and on that day he 
hunted for small game and slept. 

On the morning of the seventh day he ate again and turned his 
way to the south. Late in the evening he came to a clearing and 
found a bark field hut. There he found a shelter and there he 
erected two poles, placed another across the tops and suspended 
three shell strings. Locking at them he said : " Men boast what 
they would do in extremity but they do not do what they say. If 
I should see anyone in deep grief I would remove these shell strings 
from the pole and console them. The strings would become words 
and lift away the darkness with which they are covered. More- 
over what I say I would surely do." This he repeated. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 21 

A little girl discovered smoke arising from the field lodge and 
she crept up and listened. She advanced and peered in a chink in 
the bark. Then she ran homeward and told her father of the 
strange man. 

" The stranger must be Hayonwhatha," said the father, " I have 
heard that he has departed from Onondaga. Return, my dau^'hlcr, 
and invite him to our house." 

The girl-child obeyed and Hayonwhatha went to her house. " We 
are about to hold a council," the father said. " Sit in that place on 
one side of the fire and I will acquaint you with our decisions." 

The council was convened and there was a great discussion. 
Before darkness every evening the council dissolved and at no time 
was Hayonwhatha called upon for advice nor was anything officially 
reported to him. 

On the tenth day of his journey during the debate in the council 
Hayonwhatha quietly left and resumed his wandering. Nothing 
had been asked of him and he felt himself not needed by the people. 
Late in the evening he came to the edge of another settlement and 
as was his custom he kindled a fire and erected a horizontal pole 
on two upright poles. On this he placed three strings of the 
wampum shells. Then he sat down and repeated his saying : " Men 
boast what they would do in extremity but they do not do what 
they promise. HI should see any one in deep grief I would re- 
move these shells from this pole and console him. The shells would 
become words and lift away the darkness with which they are 
covered. Moreover, I truly would do as I say." This he repeated. 

The chief man of the village saw the smoke at the edge of the 
forest and sent a messenger to discover who the stranger might be. 
Now when the messenger reached the spot he saw a man seated 
before a fire and a horizontal pole from which three strings of small 
shells were suspended. He also heard the words spoken as the 
stranger looked at the strings. So then when he had seen all he 
returned and reported what he had seen and heard. 

Then said the chief man, " The person whom you describe must 
truly be Hayonwhatha whom we have heard left his home at Onon- 
daga. He it is who shall meet the great man foretold by the 
dreamer. We have heard that this man should work with the man 
who talks of the establishment of peace." 

So then the chiefs sent a messenger who should say, " Our prin- 
cipal chief sent me to greet you. Now then I wish you would come 
into our village with me." 



22 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Hayonwhatha heard the messenger and gathered up his goods 
and went into the village and when he had entered the chief's house 
the chief said, " Seat yourself on the opposite side of the fire so that 
you may have an understanding of all that we do here in this place." 

Then Hayonhwatha sat there for seven days and the chiefs and 
people talked without arriving at any decision. No word was asked 
Hayonhwatha and he was not consulted. No report was made 
officially to him. So he did not hear what they talked about. 

On the eighteenth night a runner came from the south. He was 
from the nation residing on the seashore. He told the chiefs of 
the eminent man who had now come to the town on the Mohawk 
river at the lower falls. Then the messenger said : " We have 
heard of the dream of Onodaga which told of the great man who 
came from the north. Now another great man who shall now go 
forward in haste to meet him shall change his course and go east- 
ward to meet in the Flinty land village (Kanyakahake), the great 
man. There shall the two council together and establish the Great 
Peace." So said the messenger from the salt water seashore, who 
came to tell Hayonwhatha to journey east. 

So the chiefs of the town where Hayonhwatha was staying chose 
five men as an escort for Hayonhwatha. They must go with him 
until he reached the house where Dekanawida was present. So 
then on the next day the chief himself went with the party and 
watched carefully the health of Hayonhwatha. The journey lasted 
five days and on the fifth day the party stopped on the outskirts of 
the town where Dekanawida was staying and then they built a fire. 
This was the custom, to make a smoke so that the town might know 
that visitors were approaching and send word that they might enter 
without danger to their lives. The smoke was the signal of friends 
approaching.^ /The Mohawks (People of the Flinty Country) knew 
the meaning of the signal so they sent messengers and invited the 
party into the village. 

When Hayonhwatha had entered the house where the people had 
gathered the chief asked him whom he would like to see most. 
Then Ayonhwatha answered, " I came to see a very great man 
who lately came from the north." The chief said, " I have with you 
two men who shall escort you to the house where Dekanawida is 



1 In those days it was necessary to build a fire on the outskirts of a village 
about to be entered. If necessary to kill an animal for food, its pelt must 
be hung on a tree in plain sight because it is the property of the nation in 
whose territory it is killed. This information was given to me by Albert 
Cusick and Seth Newhouse. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 23 

present." Then the people went out and the two men escorted 
Hayonhwatha to Dekanawida. This was on the twenty-third day. 
Then Dekanawida arose when Hayonhwatha had entered and he 
said : " My younger brother I perceive that you have suffered from 
some deep grief. You are a chief among your people and yet you 
are wandering about." 

Hayonhwatha answered, " That person skilled in sorcery, Osinoh, 
has destroyed my family of seven daughters. It was truly a great 
calamity and I am now very miserable. My sorrow and my rage 
have been bitter. I can only rove about since now I have cast 
myself away from my people. I am only a wanderer. I split the 
heavens when I went away from my house and my nation." 

Dekanawida replied, " Dwell here with me. I will represent your 
sorrow to the people here dwelling." 

So Hayonhwatha had found some one who considered his dis- 
tress and he did stay. Then Dekanawida told of his suffering and 
the people listened. 

The five escorts were then dismissed and Hayonhwatha gave 
thanks to them and told them to return to their own region again. 
Then the escorts said, " Now today it has happened as was foretold 
in a dream. The two are now together. Let them now arrange 
the Great Peace." Then they returned home. 

When Dekanawida laid the trouble before the council he promised 
to let Hayonhwatha know their decision. The chiefs deliberated 
over the sad events and then decided to do as Dekanawida should 
say. He then should remedy the trouble. Then Dekanawida went 
in perplexity to his lodge and as he came to it he heard Hayonh- 
watha say, " It is useless, for the people only boast what they will 
do, saying ' I would do this way,' but they do nothing at all. If what 
has befallen me should happen to them I would take down the three 
shell strings from the upright pole and I would address them and I 
would console them because they would be covered by heavy dark- 
ness." Dekanawida stood outside the door and heard all these 
words. So then Dekanawida went forward into the house and he 
went up to the pole, then he said : " My younger brother, it has 
now become very plain to my eyes that your sorrow must be re- 
moved. Your griefs and your rage have been great. I shall now 
undertake to remove your sorrow so that your mind may be rested. 
Have you no more shell strings on your pole ? " 

Hayonhwatha replied, " I have no more strings but I have many 
shells in a tanned deer's skin." So he opened his bundle and a great 



24 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

quantity of shells fell out. So then Dekanawida said, " My younger 
brother, I shall string eight more strands because there must be 
eight parts to my address to you." So then Hayonhwatha per- 
mitted the stringing of the shells and Dekanawida made the strings 
so that in all there were thirteen strings and bound them in four 
bunches. These must be used to console the one who has lost by 
death a near relative. " My younger brother, the thirteen strings 
are now ready on this horizontal pole. I shall use them. I shall 
address you. This is all that is necessary in your case." 

So then he took one bunch off the pole and held it in his hand 
while he talked. While he talked one after another he took them 
down and gave one to Hayonhwatha after each part of his address. 

The words that he spoke when he addressed Hayonhwatha were 
eight of the thirteen condolences. 

When the eight ceremonial addresses had been made by Dekana- 
wida the mind of Hayonhwatha was made clear. He was then satis- 
fied and once more saw things rightly. 

Dekanawida then said, " My younger brother, these thirteen 
strings of shell are now completed. In the future they shall be used 
in this way: They shall be held in the hand to remind the speaker 
of each part of his address, and as each part is finished a string 
shall be given to the bereaved chief (Royaneh) on the other side of 
the fire. Then shall the Royaneh hand them back one by one as he 
addresses a reply ; it then can be said, ' I have now become even 
with you.' " 

Dekanawida then said, " My junior brother, your mind being 
cleared and you being competent to judge, we now shall make our 
laws and when all are made we shall call the organization we have 
formed the Great Peace. It shall be the power to abolish war and 
robbery between brothers and bring peace and quietness. 

"As emblems of our Royoneh titles we shall wear deer antlers 
and place them on the heads of Royaneh men." 

Hayonhwatha then said, " What you have said is good, I do 
agree." 

Dekanawida said, " My younger brother, since you have agreed 
I now propose that we compose our Peace song. We shall use it 
on our journey to pacify Adodarhoh. When he hears it his mind 
shall be made straight. His mind shall then be like that of other 
men. This will be true if the singer remembers and makes no error 
in his singing from the beginning to the end, as he walks before 
Adodarhoh." 



THE CONSTITUTION Ul- JilE M\i: NATIONS 25 

Hayoiihwatha said, " I do agree, I truly believe the truth of what 
you say." 

Then Dekanawida said, " My younger brother, we shall now pro- 
pose to. the Mohawk council the plan we have made. We shall tell 
our plan for a confederation and the building of a house of peace. 
It will be necessary for us to know its opinion and have its consent 
to proceed." 

The plan was talked about in the council and Dekanawida spoke 
of establishing a union of all the nations. He told them that all the 
chiefs must be virtuous men and be very patient. These should 
wear deer horns as emblems of their position, because as he told 
them their strength came from the meat of the deer. Then Hayonh- 
watha confirmed all that Dekanawida had said. 

Then the speaker of the Mohawk council said, " You two, Dekana- 
wida and Hayonhwatha, shall send messengers to the Oneida (Peo- 
ple of the Stone) and they shall ask Odatshedeh if he will consider 
the plan." 

When Odatshedeh had been asked he replied, " I will consider 
this plan and answer you tomorrow." 

When the tomorrow of the next year had come, there came the 
answer of the Oneida council, " We will join the confederation." 

So then the Mohawks (Kanyenga) sent two messengers to Onon- 
daga asking that the nation consider the proposals of Dekanawida. 
It was a midsummer day when the message went forth and the 
Onondaga council answered, " Return tomorrow at high sun." So 
the two great men returned home and waited until the next mid- 
summer. Then the midday came and the Onondaga council sent 
messengers who said, " We have decided that it would be a good 
plan to build the fire and set about it with you." Dekanawida and 
Hayonhwatha heard this answer. 

So then at the same time Dekanawida and Hayonhwatha sent 
messengers to the Cayuga nation and the answer was sent back. 
The Cayugas said they would send word of their decision tomorrow, 
upon the midsummer day. The next year at midsummer the 
Cayugas sent their answer and they said, " We do agree with 
Dekanawida and Hayonhwatha." 

Now the People of the Great Hill were divided and were not 
agreed because there had been trouble between their war chiefs, but 
messengers were sent to them but the Senecas could not agree to 
listen and requested the messengers to return the next year. So 
when the messengers returned the councfls did listen and considered 



t/ 



26 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

the proposals. After a year had passed they sent messengers to say 
that they had agreed to enter into the confederacy. 

Then Dekanawida said, " I now will report to the Mohawk coun- 
cil the result of my work of five years." Hayonhwatha then said, 
" I do agree to the report." 

THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE GREAT PEACE 

Dekanawida requested some of the Mohawk chiefs to call a 
council, so messengers were sent out among the people and the 
council was convened. 

Dekanawida said, " I, with my co-worker, have a desire to now 
report what we have done on five successive midsummer days, of 
five successive years. We have obtained the consent of five nations. 
These are the Mohawks, the Oneidas, the Onondagas, the Cayugas 
and the Senecas. Our desire is to form a compact for a union of 
our nations. Our next step is to seek out Adodarhoh. It is he who 
has always set at naught all plans for the establishment of the 
Great Peace. We must seek his fire and look for his smoke." 

The chief speaker of the council then said, " We do agree and 
confirm all you have said and we wish to appoint two spies who shall 
volunteer to seek out the smoke of Adodarhoh." 

Two men then eagerly volunteered and Dekanawida asked them 
if they were able to transform themselves into birds or animals, for 
such must be the ability of the messengers who approached Adodar- 
hoh. The two men replied, " We are able to transform ourselves 
into herons and cranes." 

" Then you will not do for you will pause at the first creek or 
swamp and look for frogs and fish." 

Two men then said, " We have magic that will transform us into 
humming birds. They fly very swiftly." 

" Then you will not do because you are always hungry and are 
looking for flowers." 

Two other men then said, " We can become the Dare, the white 
crane." 

" Then you will not do because you are very wild and easily 
frightened. You would be afraid when the clouds move. You 
would become hungry and fly to the ground looking about for 
ground nuts." 

Then two men who were crows by magic volunteered but they 
were told that crows talked too loudly, boasted and were full of 
mischief. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 2"^ 

So then in the end two men who were powerful by the magic of 
the deer and the bear stepped before the council and were chosen. 
The speaker for the council then reported to Dekanawida that the 
spies were ready to go. Then they went. 

Now Dekanawida addressed the council and he said, " I am 
Dekanawida and with me is my younger brother. We two now lay 
before you the laws by which to frame the Ka-ya-neh-renh-ko-wa. 
The emblems of the chief rulers shall be the antlers of deer. The 
titles shall be vested in certain women and the names shall be held 
in their maternal families forever." All the laws were then recited 
and Hayonhwatha confirmed them. 

Dekanawida then sang the song to be used when conferring titles. 
So in this way all the work and the plans were reported to the 
Mohawk council and Hayonhwatha confirmed it all. Therefore the 
council adopted the plan. 

When the spies returned the speaker of the council said, " Ska- 
non-donh, our ears are erected." Then the spies spoke and they 
said, "At great danger to ourselves we have seen Adodarhoh. We 
have returned and tell you that the body of Adodarhoh has seven 
crooked parts, his hair is infested with snakes and he is a cannibal." 

The council heard the message and decided to go to Onondaga 
at midsummer. 

Then Dekanawida taught the people the Hymn of Peace and 
the other songs. He stood before the door of the longhouse and 
walked before it singing the new songs. Many came and learned 
them so that many were strong by the magic of them when it was 
time to carry the Great Peace to Onondaga. 

When the time had come, Dekanawida summoned the chiefs and 
people together and chose one man to sing the songs before Adodar- 
hoh. Soon then this singer led the company through the forest 
and he preceded all, singing the Peace songs as he walked. Many 
old villages and camping places were passed as they went and the 
names were lifted to give the clan name holders. Now the party 
passed through these places : 
Old Clearing 
Overgrown with bushes 
A temporary place 
Protruding rocks 
Between two places 
Parties opposite at the council fire 
In the Valley 



28 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Drooping Wing 

On the Hillside 

Man Standing 

I have daubed it 

Lake Bridge 

Between two side hills 

Lake Outlet 

At the forks 

Long Hill 

Broken Branches Lying 

The Spring 

White 

Corn Stalks on both sides 

Two Hillsides 

The Old Beast 

All these places were in the Mohawk country. 

Now they entered the Oneida country and the great chief Odat- 
shedeh with his chiefs met them. Then all of them marched on- 
ward to Onondaga, the singer of the Peace Hymn going on ahead. 

The frontier of the Onondaga country was reached and the ex- 
pedition halted to kindle a fire, as was customary. Then the chiefs 
of the Onondagas with their head men welcomed them and a great 
throng marched to the fireside of Adodarhoh, the singer of the 
Peace Hymn leading the multitude. 

The lodge of Adodarhoh was reached and a new singer was ap- 
pointed to sing the Peace Hymn. So he walked before the door 
of the house singing to cure the mind of Adodarhoh. He knew that 
if he made a single error or hesitated his power would be weakened 
and the crooked body of Adodarhoh remain misshapen. Then he 
hesitated and made an error. So another singer was appointed and 
he too made an error by hesitating. 

Then Dekanawida himself sang and walked before the door of 
Adodarhoh's house. When he finished his song he walked toward 
Adodarhoh and held out his hand to rub it on his body and to 
know its inherent strength and life. Then Adodarhoh was made 
straight and his mind became healthy. 

When Adodarhoh was made strong in rightful powers and his 
body had been healed, Dekanawida addressed the three nations. 
He said, " We have now overcome a great obstacle. It has long 
stood in the way of peace. The mind of Adodarhoh is now made 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 29 

right and his crooked parts are made straight. Now indeed may 
we establish the Great Peace. . 

" Before we do firmly establish our union eacii nation must ap- 
point a certain number of its wisest and purest men who shall be 
rulers, Rodiyaner. They shall be the advisers of the people and 
make the new rules that may be needful. These men shall be se- 
lected and confirmed by their female relations in whose lines the 
titles shall be hereditary. When these are named they shall be 
crowned, emblematically, with deer antlers." 

So then the women of the Mohawks brought forward nine chiefs 
who should become Rodiyaner and one man, Ayenwaehs, as war 
chief. 

So then the women of the Oneidas brought forward nine chiefs 
who should become Rodiyaner, and one man, Kahonwadironh, who 
should be war chief. 

So then the Onondaga women brought forward fourteen chiefs 
who should become Rodiyaner, and one man, Ayendes, who should 
be war chief. 

Each chief then delivered to Dekanawida a string of lake shell 
wampum a span in length as a pledge of truth. 

Dekanawida then said: "Now, today in the presence of this 
great multitude I disrobe you and you are not now covered by 
your old names. I now give you names much greater." Then 
calling each chief to him he said : " I now place antlers on your 
head as an emblem of your power. Your old garments are torn 
oflf and better robes are given you. Now you are Royaner, each 
of you. You will receive many scratches and the thickness of 
your skins shall be seven spans. You must be patient and hence- 
forth work in unity. Never consider your own interests but work 
to benefit the people and for the generations not yet born. You 
have pledged yourselves to govern yourselves by the laws of the 
Great Peace. All your authority shall come from it. 

" I do now order that Skanawateh shall in one-half of his being 
be a Royaneh of the Great Peace, and in his other half a war 
chief, for the Rodiyaner must have an ear to hear and a hand to 
feel the coming of wars." 

Then did Dekanawida repeat all the rules which he with 
Ayonhwatha had devised for the establishment of the Great Peace. 

Then in the councils of all the Five Nations he repeated them 
and the Confederacy was established. 



30 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

THE COUNCIL OF THE GREAT PEACE 

THE GREAT BINDING LAW, GAYANASHAGOWA 

I I am Dekanawidah and with the Five Nations' Confederate 
Lords^ I plant the Tree of the Great Peace. I plant it in your 
territory, Adodarhoh, and the Onondaga Nation, in the territory 
of you who are Firekeepers. 

I name the tree the Tree of the Great Long Leaves. Under the 
shade of this Tree of the Great Peace we spread the soft white 
feathery down of the globe thistle as seats for you, Adodarhoh, 
and your cousin Lords. 

We place you upon those seats, spread soft with the feathery 
down of the globe thistle, there beneath the shade of the spreading 
branches of the Tree of Peace. There shall you sit and watch 
the Council Fire of the Confederacy of the Five Nations, and all 
the affairs of the Five Nations shall be transacted at this place 
before you, Adodarhoh, and your cousin Lords, by the Confederate 
Lords of the Five Nations. (i-I, TLL).- 
[""" 2 Roots have spread out from the Tree of the Great Peace, one 
to the north, one to the east, one to the south and one to the west. 
The name of these roots is The Great White Roots and their nature 
is Peace and Strength. 

If any man or any nation outside the Five Nations shall obey the 

1 laws of the Great Peace and make known their disposition to the 

1 Lords of the Confederacy, they may trace the Roots to the Tree 

j and if their minds are clean and they are obedient and promise to 

obey the wishes of the Confederate Council, they shall be welcomed 

to take shelter beneath the Tree of the Long Leaves. 

We place at the top of the Tree of the Long Leaves an Eagle 
who is able to see afar. If he sees in the distance any evil ap- 
proaching or any danger threatening he will at once warn the people 
of the Confederacy. (2-II, TLL). 

3 To you Adodarhoh, the Onondaga cousin Lords, I and the 
other Confederate Lords have entrusted the caretaking and the 
watching of the Five Nations Council Fire. 

When there is any business to be transacted and the Confederate 
Council is not in session, a messenger shall be dispatched either to 



^ Royaneh is always translated " lord." 

2 The abbreviations after each law refer to the sections in the orioinal 
code and their numbers. TLL, means Tree of the Long Leaves; EUC, 
Emblematical L^nion Compact, and LPW, Skanawita's Laws of Peace and 
War. The first number in Roman numerals refers to the original number 
of the law, the second number, in Arabic numerals, to the section number 
in the division of the law named by the abbreviation following. 



Plate 3 




Belt of the covenant. Displayed l)y tl;e speaker of the con- 
federate council. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 3I 

Adodarholi. IlonoinvirchtcMih or Skanawatih, Fire Keei)ers, or to 
their War Chiefs with a full statement of the case desired to be con- 
sidered. Then shall Adodarho call his cousin (associate) Lords 
together and consider whether or not the case is of sufficient im- 
portance to demand the attention of the Confederate Council. If 
so, Adodarhoh shall dispatch messengers to summon all the Con- 
federate Lords to assemble beneath the Tree of the Long Leaves. 

When the Lords are assembled the Council Fire shall be kindled, 
but not with chestnut wood,' and Adodarhoh shall formally open 
the Council. 

Then shall. Adodarhoh and his cousin Lords, the Fire Keepers, 
announce the subject for discussion. 

The Smoke of the Confederate Council F'ire shall ever ascend 
and pierce the sky so that other nations who may be allies may see 
the Council Fire of the Great Peace. . - - 

Adodarho and his cousin Lords are entrusted with the Keeping 
of the Council Fire. (4-IV, TLL). 

4 You, Adodarho, and your thirteen cousin Lords, shall faith- 
fully keep the space about the Council Fire clean and you shall 
allow neither dust nor dirt to accumulate. I lay a Long Wing be- 
fore you as a broom. As a weapon against a crawling creature I 
lay a staff with you so that you may thrust it away from the Coun- 
cil Fire. If you fail to cast it out then call the rest of the United 
Lords to your aid. (3-III, ll.L). -_ 

5 The Council of the Mohawk shall be divided into three parties 
as follows : Tekarihoken, Ayonhwhathah and Shadekariwade are 
the first party; Sharenhowaneh, Deyoenhegwenh and Oghrengh- 
rehgowah are the second party, and Dehennakrineh, Aghstawen- 
serenthah and Shoskoharowaneh are the third party. The third 
party is to listen only to the discussion of the first and second par- 
ties and if an error is made or the proceeding is irregular they are 
to call attention to it, and when the case is right and properly de- 
cided by the two parties they shall confirm the decision of the two 
parties and refer the case to the Seneca Lords for their decision. 
When the Seneca Lords have decided in accord with the Mohawk 
Lords, the case or question shall be referred to the Cayuga and 
Oneida Lords on the opposite side of the house. (5-V. TLL). 

6 I, Dekanawidah, appoint the Mohawk Lords the heads and the 
leaders of the Five Nations Confederacy. The Mohawk Lords are 



1 Because chestnut wood in burning throws out sparks, thereby creating 
a disturbance in the council. 



32 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

the foundation of the Great Peace and it shall, therefore, be against 
the Great Binding Law to pass measures in the Confederate Council 
after the Mohawk Lords have protested against them. (6-VI, 
TLL). 

No council of the Confederate Lords shall be legal unless all the 
Mohawk Lords are present. (13-XiII, TLL). 

7 Whenever the Confederate Lords shall assemble for the pur- 
pose of holding a council, the Onondaga Lords shall open it by 
expressing their gratitude to their cousin Lords and greeting them, 
and they shall make an address and offer thanks to the earth where 
men dwell, to the streams of water, the pools, the springs and the 
lakes, to the maize and the fruits, to the medicinal herbs and trees, 
to the forest trees for their usefulness, to the animals that serve 
as food and give their pelts for clothing, to the great winds and the 
lesser winds, to the Thunderers, to the Sun, the mighty warrior, 
to the moon, to the messengers of the Creator who reveal his wishes 
and to the Great Creator' who dwells in the heavens above, who 
gives all the things useful to men, and who is the source and the 
ruler of health and life. 

Then shall the Onondaga Lords declare the council open. 
The council shall not sit after darkness has set in. (7-VTI, 
TLL). 

8 The Firekeepers shall formally open and close all councils of 
the Confederate Lords, they shall pass upon all matters deliberated 
upon by the two sides and render their decision. 

Every Onondaga Lord (or his deputy) must be present at every 
Confederate Council and must agree with the majority without un- 
warrantable dissent, so that a unanimous decision may be rendered. 
(8-Vin, TLL). 

If Adodarho or any of his cousin Lords are absent from a Con- 
federate Council, any other Firekeeper may open and close the 
Council, but the Firekeepers present may not give any decisions, 
_unless the matter is of small importance. (9-IX, TLL). 

9 All the business of the Five Nations Confederate Council shall 
be conducted by the two combined bodies of Confederate Lords. 
First the question shall be passed upon by the Mohawk and Seneca 
Lords, then it shall be discussed and passed by the Oneida and 
Cayuga Lords. Their decisions shall then be referred to the Onon- 
daga Lords, (Fire Keepers) for final judgment. (lO-X, TLL). 

The same process shall obtain when a question is brought before 
the council by an individual or a War Chief. (ii-XT, TLL). 



1 Hodianok'doo" Hediohe' (Seneca). 



THE CONSTITUTION (F THE FIVE NATIONS 33 

10 In all cases the procedure must be as follows : when the Mo- 
hawk and Seneca Lords have unanimously agreed upon a question, 
they shall report their decision to the Cayuga and Oneida Lords 
who shall deliberate upon the question and report a unanimous de- 
cision to the Mohawk Lords. The Mohawk Lords will then report 
the standing of the case to the Firekeepers, who shall render a de- 
cision (17-XVII, TLL) as they see fit in case of a disagreement 
by the two bodies, or confirm the decisions of the two bodies if 
Ihey are identical. The Fire Keepers shall then report their de- 
cision to the Mohawk Lords who shall announce it to the open 
council. (12-XII, TLL). 

11 If through any misunderstanding or obstinacy on the part 
of the Fire Keepers, they render a decision at variance with that of 
tlie Two Sides, the Two Sides shall reconsider the matter and if 
their decisions are jointly the same as before they shall report to 
the Fire Keepers who are then compelled to confirm their joint 
decision. (18-XVIII, TLL). 

12 When a case comes before the Onondaga Lords (Fire Keep- 
ers) for discussion and decision, Adodarho shall introduce the mat- 
ter to his comrade Lords who shall then discuss it in their two 
bodies. Every Onondaga Lord except Hononwiretonh shall de- 
liberate and he shall listen only. When a unanimous decision shall 
have been reached by the two bodies of Fire Keepers, Adodarho 
shall notify Hononwiretonh of the fact when he shall confirm it. 
He shall refuse to confirm a decision if it is not unanimously agreed 
upon by both sides of the Fire Keepers. (19-XIX, TLL). 

13 No Lord shall ask a question of the body of Confederate 
Lords when they are discussing a case, question or proposition. 
1 le may only deliberate in a low tone with the separate body of 
which he is a member. (21-XXI, TLL). 

14 When the Council of the Five Nation Lords shall convene 
they shall appoint a speaker for the day. He shall be a Lord of 
cither the Mohawk, Onondaga or Seneca Nation. 

The next day the Council shall appoint another speaker, but the 
first speaker may be reappointed if there is no objection, but a 
speaker's term shall not be regarded more than for the day. (35~ ' 
XXXV, TLL). 1 

15 No individual or foreign nation interested in a case, question 
or proposition shall have any voice in the Confederate Council ex- 
cept to answer a question put to him or them by the speaker for 
the Lords. (41-XLI, TLL). -- - 



34 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

i6 If the conditions which shall arise at any future time call for 
an addition to or change of this law, the case shall be carefully 
considered and if a new beam seems necessary or beneficial, the 
proposed change shall be voted upon and if adopted it shall be 
called, "Added to the Rafters." (48-XLVII, TLL). 

Rights, duties and qualifications of Lords 

17 A bunch of a certain number of shell (wampum) strings each 
two spans in length shall be given to each of the female families 
in which the Lordship titles are vested. The right of bestowing 
the title shall be hereditary in the family of females legally possess- 
ing the bunch of shell strings and the strings shall be the token 
that the females of the family have the proprietary right to the 
Lordship title for all time to come, subject to certain restrictions 
hereinafter mentioned. (59-LIX, TLL). 

18 If any Confederate Lord neglects or refuses to attend the 
Confederate Council, the other Lords of the Nation of which he 
is a member shall require their War Chief to request the female 
sponsors of the Lord so guilty of defection to demand his attend- 
ance of the Council. If he refuses, the women holding the title 
shall immediately select another candidate for the title. 

■ No Lord shall be asked more than once to attend the Confederate 
^Council. (30-XXX, TLL). 

19 If at any time it shall be manifest that a Confederate Lord 
has not in mind the welfare of the people or disobeys the rules of 
this Great Law, the men or the women of the Confederacy, or both 
jointly,^ shall come to the Council and upbraid the erring Lord 
through his War Chief. If the complaint of the people through 
the War Chief is not heeded the first time it shall be uttered again 
and then if no attention is given a third complaint and warning 
shall be given. If the Lord is still contumacious the matter shall 
go to the council of War Chiefs. (66-LXVI, TLL). The War 
Chiefs shall then divest the erring Lord of his title by order of 
the women in whom the titleship is vested. When the Lord is de- 
posed the women shall notify the Confederate Lords through their 
War Chief, and the Confederate Lords shall sanction the act. The 
women will then select another of their sons as a candidate and the 
Lords shall elect him. Then shall the chosen one be installed by 
the Installation Ceremony. (123-XLI, EUC), (Cf. 42-XLII). 



See sections 94 and 95 for right of popular councils. 



Plate 4 




1 Xominatiim belt used to confirm the nominalion of the civil chiefs 

2 Welcome belt used in welcoming delegates 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 35 

When a Lord is to be deposed, his War Chief shall address him 
as follows : 

" So you, , disregard and set at naught the warn- 
ings of your women relatives. So you fling the warnings over 
your shoulder to cast them behind you. 

" Behold the brightness of the Sun and in the brightness of the 
Sun's light I depose you of your title and remove the sacred emblem 
of your Lordship title. I remove from your brow the deer's ant- 
lers, which was the emblem of your position and token of your 
nobility. I now depose you and return the antlers to the women 
whose heritage they are." 

The War Chief shall now address the women of the deposed 
Lord and say : 

" Mothers, as I have now deposed your Lord, I now return to 
you the emblem and the title of Lordship, therefore repossess 
them." 

Again addressing himself to the deposed Lord he shall say: 

" As I have now deposed and discharged you so you are now no 
longer Lord. You shall now go your way alone, the rest of the 
people of the Confederacy will not go with you, for we know not 
the kind of mind that possesses you. As the Creator has nothing 
to do with wrong so he will not come to resue you from the preci- 
pice of destruction in which you have cast yourself. You shall 
never be restored to the position which you once occupied." 

Then shall the War Chief address himself to the Lords of the 
Nation to which the deposed Lord belongs and say : 

" Know^ you, my Lords, that I have taken the deer's antlers from 

the brow of , the emblem of his position and token of 

his greatness." 

The Lords of the Confederacy shall then have no other alter- 
native than to sanction the discharge of the ofTending Lord. (42- 
XLIL TLL). 

20 If a Lord of the Confederacy of the Five Nations should 
commit murder the other Lords of the Nation shall assemble at the 
place where the corpse lies and prepare to depose the criminal Lord. 
If it is impossible to meet at the scene of the crime the Lords 
shall discuss the matter at the next Council of their nation and re- 
quest their War Chief to depose the Lord guilty of crime, to 
" bury " his women relatives and to transfer the Lordship title to 
a sister family. 

2 



36 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The War Chief shall address the Lord guilty of murder and say : 
" So you, (giving his name) did kill 



(naming the slain man), with your own hands ! You have committed 
a grave sin in the eyes of the Creator. Behold the bright light of 
the Sun, and in the brightness of the Sun's light I depose you of 
your title and remove the horns, the sacred emblems of your Lord- 
ship title. I remove from your brow the deer's antlers, which was 
the emblem of your position and token of your nobility. I now 
depose you and expel you and you shall depart at once from the 
territory of the Five Nations Confederacy and nevermore return 
again. We, the Five Nations Confederacy, moreover, bury your 
women relatives because the ancient Lordship title was never in- 
tended to have any union with bloodshed. Henceforth it shall not 
be their heritage. By the evil deed that you have done they have 
forfeited it forever." 

The War Chief shall then hand the title to a sister family and he 
shall address it and say : 

" Our mothers, , listen attentively while I address 

you on a solemn and important subject. I hereby transfer to you 
an ancient Lordship title for a great calamity has befallen it in 
the hands of the family of a former Lord. We trust that you, our 
mothers, will always guard it, and that you will warn your Lord 
always to be dutiful and to advise his people to ever live in love, 
peace and harmony that a great calamity may never happen again." 
(47-XLVII, TLL). 

21 Certain physical defects in a Confederate Lord make him in- 
eligible to sit in the Confederate Council. Such defects are in- 
fancy, idiocy, blindness, deafness, dumbness and impotency. When 
a Confederate Lord is restricted by any of these conditions, a 
deputy shall be appointed by his sponsors to act for him, but in 
case of extreme necessity the restricted Lord may exercise his 
rights. (29-XXIX, TLL). 

22 If a Confederate Lord desires to resign his title he shall 
notify the Lords of the Nation of which he is a member of his in- 
tention. If his coactive Lords refuse to accept his resignation he 
may not resign his title. 

A Lord in proposing to resign may recommend any proper candi- 
date which recommendation shall be . received by the Lords, but 
unless confirmed and nominated by the women who hold the title 
the candidate so named shall not be considered. (31-XXXI, 
TLL). 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 37 

23 Any Lord of the Five Nations Confederacy may construct 
shell strings (or wampum belts) of any size or length as pledges 
or records of matters of national or international importance. 

When it is necessary to dispatch a shell string by a War Chief 
or other messenger as the token of a summons, the messenger shall 
recite the contents of the string to the party to whom it is sent. 
That party shall repeat the message and return the shell string and 
if there has been a summons he shall make ready for the journey. 

Any of the people of the Five Nations may use shells (or wam- 
pum) as the record of a pledge, contract or an agreement entered 
into and the same shall be binding as soon as shell strings shall have 
been exchanged by both parties. (32-XXXII, TLL). 

24 The Lords of the Confederacy of the Five Nations shall be 
mentors of the people for all time. The thickness of their skin 
shall be seven spans — which is to say that they shall be proof 
against anger, offensive actions and criticism. Their hearts shall be 
full of peace and good will and their minds filled with a yearning \ 
for the welfare of the people of the Confederacy. With endless 1 
patience they shall carry out their duty and their firmness shall be \ 
tempered with a tenderness for their people. Neither anger nor 1 
fury shall find lodgement in their minds and all their words and \ 
actions shall be marked by calm deliberation. (33-XXXIII, TLL). \ 

25 If a I-ord of the Confederacy should seek to establish any 
authority independent of the jurisdiction of the Confederacy of the 
Great Peace, which is the Five Nations, he shall be warned three 
times in open council, first by the women relatives, second by the 
men relatives and finally by the Lords of the Confederacy of the 
Nation to which he belongs. If the offending Lord is still obdurate 
he shall be dismissed by the War Chief of his nation for refusing 
to conform to the laws of the Great Peace. His nation shall then 
install the candidate nominated by the female name holders of his 
family. (34-XXXIV, TLL) . 

26 It shall be the duty of all of the Five Nations Confederate 
Lords, from time to time as occasion demands, to act as mentors 
and spiritual guides of their people and remind them of their 
Creator's will and words. They shall say: 

" Hearken, that peace may continue unto future days ! 

"Always listen to the words of the Great Creator, for he has 
spoken. 

" United People, let not evil find lodging in your minds 

" For the Great Creator has spoken and the cause of Peace shall 
not become old. 



38 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

" The cause of peace shall not die if you remember the Great 
Creator." 

Every Confederate Lord shall speak words such as these to pro- 
mote peace. (37-XXX VII, TLL). 



L 



27 All Lords of the Five Nations Confederacy must be honest 
in all things. They must not idle or gossip, but be men possessing 
those honorable qualities that make true royaneh. It shall be a 
serious wrong for anyone to lead a Lord into trivial afifairs, for the 
people must ever hold their Lords high in estimation out of respect 
to their honorable positions. (45-XLV, TLL). 

28 When a candidate Lord is to be installed he shall furnish 
four strings of shells (or wampum) one span in length bound to- 
gether at one end. Such will constitute the evidence of his pledge 
to the Confederate Lords that he will live according to the consti- 
tution of the Great Peace and exercise justice in all affairs. 

When the pledge is furnished the Speaker of the Council must 
hold the shell strings in his hand and address the opposite side of 
the Council Fire and he shall commence his address saying: " Now 
behold him. He has now become a Confederate Lord. See how 
splendid he looks." An address may then follow. At the end of it 
he shall send the bunch of shell strings to the opposite side and they 
shall be received as evidence of the pledge. Then shall the opposite 
side say: 

" We now do crown you with the sacred emblem of the deer's 
antlers, the emblem of your Lordship. You shall now become a 
mentor of the people of the Five Nations. The thickness of your 
skin shall be seven spans — which is to say that you shall be proof 
against anger, offensive actions and criticism. Your heart shall be 
filled with peace and good will and your mind filled with a yearning 
for the welfare of the people of the Confederacy, With endless 
patience you shall carry out your duty and your firmness shall be 
tempered with tenderness for your people. Neither anger nor fury 
shall find lodgement in your mind and all your words and actions 
shall be marked with calm deliberation. In all of your delibera- 
tions in the Confederate Council, in your efforts at law making, 
in all your official acts, self interest shall be cast into oblivion. Cast 
not over your shoulder behind you the warnings of the nephews 
and nieces should they chide you for any error or wrong you may 
do, but return to the way of the Great Law which is just and right. 
Look and listen for the welfare of the whole people and have always 
in view not only the present but also the coming generations, even 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 39 

those whose faces are yet beneath the surface of the ground — the 
unborn of the future Nation." (51-LI, TLL). 

29 When a Lordship title is to be conferred, the candidate Lord 
shall furnish the cooked venison, the corn bread and the corn soup, 
together with other necessary things and the labor for the Con- 
ferring of Titles Festival. (50-L, TLL). 

30 The Lords of the Confederacy may confer the Lordship title 
upon a candidate whenever the Great Law is recited, if there be 
a candidate, for the Great Law speaks all the rules. (XLIV-44, 
TLL). 

31 If a lord of the Confederacy should become seriously ill and 
be thought near death, the women who are heirs of his title shall 
go to his house and lift his crown of deer antlers, the emblem of his 
Lordship, and place them at one side. If the Creator spares him 
and he rises from his bed of sickness he may rise with the antlers 
on his brow. 

The following words shall be used to temporarily remove the 
antlers : 

" Now our comrade Lord (or our relative Lord) the time has 
come when we must approach you in your illness. We remove for 
a time the deer's antlers from your brow, we remove the emblem 
of your Lordship title. The Great Law has decreed that no Lord 
should end his life with the antlers on his brow. We therefore lay 
them aside in the room. If the Creator spares you and you recover 
from your illness you shall rise from your bed with the antlers on 
your brow as before and you shall resume your duties as Lord of 
the Confederacy and you may labor again for the Confederate 
people." (XXVII-27, TLL).' 

32 If a Lord of the Confederacy should die while the Council 
of the Five Nations is in session the Council shall adjourn for ten 
days. No Confederate Council shall sit within ten days of the death 
of a Lord of the Confederacy. 

If the Three Brothers (the Mohawk, the Onondaga and the 
Seneca) should lose one of their Lords by death, the Younger 
Brothers (the Oneida and the Cayuga) shall come to the surviving 
Lords of the Three Brothers on the tenth day and console them. 
If the Younger Brothers lose one of their Lords then the Three 
Brothers shall come to them and console them. And the consola- 
tion shall be the reading of the contents of the thirteen shell 
(wampum) strings of Ayonhwhathah. At the termination of this 
rite a successor shall be appointed, to be appointed by the women 



40 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

heirs of the Lordship title. If the women are not yet ready to place 
their nominee before the Lords the Speaker shall say, " Come let 
us g-o out." All shall then leave the Council or the place of gather- 
ing. The installation shall then wait until such a time as the 
women are ready. The Speaker shall lead the way from the house 
by saying, " Let us depart to the edge of the woods and lie in wait- 
ing on our bellies." 

When the women title holders shall have chosen one of their sons 
the Confederate Lords will assemble in two places, the Younger 
Brothers in one place and the Three Older Brothers in another. 
The Lords who are to console the mourning Lords shall choose one 
of their number to sing the Pacification Hymn as they journey to 
the sorrowing Lords. The singer shall lead the way and the Lords 
and the people shall follow. When they reach the sorrowing Lords 
they shall hail the candidate Lord and perform the rite of Con- 
ferring the Lordship Title. (22-XXII, TLL). 

33 When a Confederate Lord dies, the surviving relatives shall 
immediately dispatch a messenger, a member of another clan, to the 
Lords in another locality. When the runner comes within hailing 
distance of the locality he shall utter a sad wail, thus : " Kwa-ah, 
Kwa-ah, Kwa-ah ! " The sound shall be repeated three times and 
then again and again at intervals as many times as the distance may 
require. When the runner arrives at the settlement the people shall 
assemble and one must ask him the nature of his sad message. He 
shall then say, " Let us consider." Then he shall tell them of the 
death of the Lord. He shall deliver to them a string of shells 
(wampum) and say " Here is the testimony, you have heard the 
message." He may then return home. 

It now becomes the duty of the Lords of the locality to send 
runners to other localities and each locality shall send other mes- 
sengers until all Lords are notified. Runners shall travel day and 
night. (23-XXIII, TLL). 

34 If a Lord dies and there is no candidate qualified for the office 
in the family of the women title holders, the Lords of the Nation 
shall give the title into the hands of a sister family in the clan 
until such a time as the original family produces a candidate, when 
the title shall be restored to the rightful owners. 

No Lordship title may be carried into the grave. The Lords of 
the Confederacy may dispossess a dead Lord of his title even at 
the grave. (24-XXIV, TLL). 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 4I 




Election of Pine Tree chiefs 

35 Should any man of the Nation assist with special ability or 
show great interest in the affairs of the Nation, if he proves him- 
self wise, honest and worthy of confidence, the Confederate Lords 
may elect him to a seat with them and he may sit in the Confed- 
erate Council. He shall be proclaimed a Pine Tree sprung up for 
the Nation and be installed as such at the next assembly for the 
installation of Lords. Should he ever do anything contrary to 
the rules of the Great Peace, he may not be deposed from office — 
no one shall cut him down^ — but thereafter everyone shall be deaf 
to his voice and his advice. Should he resign his seat and title 
no one shall prevent him. A Pine Tree chief has no authority to 
name a successor nor is his title hereditary. (LXVIlI-68, TLL). 

Names, duties and rights of war chiefs 

36 The title names of the Chief Confederate Lords' War Chiefs 
shall be : 

Ayonwaehs, War Chief under Lord Takarihoken (Mohawk) 
Kahonwahdironh, War Chief under Lord Odatshedeh (Oneida) 
Ayendes, War Chief under Lord Adodarhoh (Onondaga) 
Wenenhs, War Chief under Lord Dekaenyonh (Cayuga) 
Shoneradowaneh, War Chief under Lord Skanyadariyo (Seneca) 

The women heirs of each head Lord's title shall be the heirs of 
the War Chief's title of their respective Lord. (52-LII, TLL). 

The War Chiefs shall be selected from the eligible sons of the 
female families holding the head Lordship titles. (53-LIII, TLL). 

37 There shall be one War Chief for each Nation and their 
duties shall be to carry messages for their Lords and to take up 
the arms of war in case of emergency. They shall not participate 
in the proceedings of the Confederate Council but shall watch its 
progress and in case of an erroneous action by a Lord they shall 
receive the complaints of the people and convey the warnings of 
the women to him. The people who wish to convey messages to 
the Lords in the Confederate Council shall do so through the War 
Chief of their Nation. It shall ever be his duty to lay the cases, 
questions and propositions of the people before the Confederate 
Council. (54-LIV, TLL). 

38 When a War Chief dies another shall be installed by the same 
rite as that by which a Lord is installed. (56-L\T, TLL). 



1 Because, " his top branches pierce the sky and if his roots are cut he will 
not fall but hang upright before the people." 



42 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

39 If a War Chief acts contrary to instructions or against the 
provisions of the Laws of the Great Peace, doing so in the capacity 
of his office, he shall be deposed by his women relatives and by his 
men relatives. Either the women or the men alone or jointly may 
act in such case. The women title holders shall then choose an- 
other candidate. (55-LV, TLL). 

40 When the Lords of the Confederacy take occasion to dis- 
patch a messenger in behalf of the Confederate Council, they shall 
wrap up any matter they may send and instruct the messenger to 
remember his errand, to turn not aside but to proceed faithfully 
CO his destination and deliver his message according to every in- 
struction. (57-XLVII, TLL). 

41 If a message borne by a runner is the warning of an invasion 
he shall whoop, " Kwa-ah, Kwa-ah," twice and repeat at short 
intervals; then again at a longer interval. 

If a human being is found dead, the finder shall not touch the 
body but return home immediately shouting at short intervals, 
" Koo-weh ! " (23-XXIII, TLL) . 

Clans and consanguinity 

42 Among the Five Nations and their posterity there shall be 
the following original clans: Great Name Bearer, Ancient Name 
Bearer, Great Bear, Ancient Bear, Turtle, Painted Turtle, Standing 
Rock, Large Plover, Little Plover, Deer, Pigeon Hawk, Eel, Ball, 
Opposite-Side-of-the-Hand, and Wild Potatoes. These clans dis- 
tributed through their respective Nations, shall be the sole owners 
and holders of the soil of the country and in them is it vested as 
a birthright. (94-XI, EUC). 

43 People of the Five Nations members of a certain clan shall 
recognize every other member of that clan, irrespective of the Na- 
tion, as relatives. Men and women, therefore, members of the 
same clan are forbidden to marry. (98-XV, EUC). 

44 The lineal descent of the people of the Five Nations shall 
run in the female line. Women shall be considered the progenitors 
of the Nation. They shall own the land and the soil. Men and 
women shall follow the status of the mother. (60-LX, TLL). 

45 The women heirs of the Confederate Lordship titles shall be 
called Royaneh (Noble) for all time to come. (61-LXI, TLL). 

46 The women of the Forty Eight (now fifty) Royaneh fam- 
ilies shall be the heirs of the Authorized Names for all time to 
come. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 43 

When an infant of the Five Nations is given an Authorized Name 
at the Midwinter Festival or at the Ripe Corn Festival, one in the 
cousinhood of which the infant is a member shall be appointed a 
speaker. He shall then announce to the opposite cousinhood the 
names of the father and the mother of the child together with the 
clan of the mother. Then the speaker shall announce the child's 
name twice. The uncle of the child shall then take the child in 
his arms and walking up and down the room shall sing : " My 
head is firm, I am of the Confederacy." As he sings the opposite 
cousinhood shall respond by chanting, " Hyenh, Hyenh, Hyenh, 
Hyenh,". until the song is ended. (95-XII, EUC). 

47 If the female heirs of a Confederate Lord's title become ex- 
tinct, the title right shall be given by the Lords of the Confederacy 
to the sister family whom they shall elect and that family shall hold 
the name and transmit it to their (female) heirs, but they shall not 
appoint any of their sons as a candidate for a title until all the 
eligible men of the former family shall have died or otherwise have 
become ineligible. (25-XXV, TLL). 

48 If all the heirs of a Lordship title become extinct, and all 
the families in the clan, then the title shall be given by the Lords 
of the Confederacy to the family in a sister clan whom they shall 
elect. (26-XXVI, TLL). 

49 If any of the Royaneh women, heirs of a titleship, shall wil- 
fully withhold a Lordship or other title and refuse to bestow it, or 
if such heirs abandon, forsake or despise their heritage, then shall 
such women be deemed buried and their family extinct. The title- 
ship shall then revert to a sister family or clan upon application and 
complaint. The Lords of the Confederacy shall elect the family or 
clan which shall in future hold the title. (28-XXVIII, TLL). 

50 The Royaneh women of the Confederacy heirs of the Lord- 
ship titles shall elect two women of their family as cooks for the 
Lord when the people shall assemble at his house for business or 
other purposes. 

It is not good nor honorable for a Confederate Lord to allow 
his people whom he has called to go hungry. (62-LXII, TLL). 

51 When a Lord holds a conference in his home, his wife, if 
she wishes, may prepare the food for the Union Lords who 
assemble with him. This is an honorable right which she may ex- 
ercise and an expression of her esteem. (38-XXX\'^III, TLL). 

52 The Royaneh women, heirs of the Lordship titles, shall, 
should it be necessary, correct and admonish the holders of their 
titles. Those only who attend the Council may do this and those 



44 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

who do not shall not object to what has been said nor strive to 
undo the action. (63-LXIII, TLL). 

53 When the Royaneh women, holders of a Lordship title, select 
one of their sons as a candidate, they shall select one who is trust- 
worthy, of good character, of honest disposition, one who manages 
his own affairs, supports his own family, if any, and who has 
proven a faithful man to his Nation. (64-LXIV, TLL). 

54 When a Lordship title becomes vacant through death or 
other cause, the Royaneh women of the clan in which the title is 
hereditary shall hold a council and shall choose one from among 
their sons to fill the office made vacant. Such a candidate shall not 
be the father of any Confederate Lord. If the choice is unanimous 
the name is referred to the men relatives of the clan. If they 
should disapprove it shall be their duty to select a candidate from 
among their own number. If then the men and women are unable 
to decide which of the two candidates shall be named, then the 
matter shall be referred to the Confederate Lords in the Clan. 
They shall decide which candidate shall be named. If the men and 
the women agree to a candidate his name shall be referred to the 
sister clans for confirmation. If the sister clans confirm the choice, 
they shall refer their action to their Confederate Lords who shall 
ratify the choice and present it to their cousin Lords, and if the 
cousin Lords confirm the name then the candidate shall be installed 
by the proper ceremony for the conferring of Lordship titles. (65- 
LXV, TLL). 

Official symbolism 

55 A large bunch of shell strings, in the making of which the 
Five Nations Confederate Lords have equally contributed, shall 
symbolize the completeness of the union and certify the pledge of 
the nations represented by the Confederate Lords of the Mohawk, 
the Oneida, the Onondaga, the Cayuga and the Seneca, that all are 
united and formed into one body or union called the Union of the 
Great Law, which they have established. 

A bunch of shell strings is to be the symbol of the council fire of 
the Five Nations Confederacy. And the Lord whom the Council 
of Fire Keepers shall appoint to speak for them in opening the 
council shall hold the strands of shells in his hands when speaking. 
When he finishes speaking he shall deposit the strings on an ele- 
vated place (or pole) so that all the assembled Lords and the 
people may see it and know that the council is open and in progress. 

When the council adjourns the Lord who has been appointed by 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 45 

his comrade Lords to close it shall take the strands of shells in his 
hands and address the assembled Lords. Thus will the council 
adjourn until such a time and place as appointed by the council. 
Then shall the shell strings be placed in a place for safekeeping. 

Every five years the Five Nations Confederate Lords and the 
people shall assemble together and shall ask one another if their 
minds are still in the same spirit of unity for the Great Binding 
Law and if any of the Five Nations shall not pledge continuance 
and steadfastness to the pledge of unity then the Great Binding 
Law shall dissolve. (14-XIV, TLL). 

56 Five strings of shell tied together as one shall represent the 
Five Nations. Each string shall represent one territory and the 
whole a completely united territory known as the Five Nations 
Confederate territory. (108-XXV, EUC). 

57 Five arrows shall be bound together very strong and each 
arrow shall represent one nation. As the five arrows are strongly 
bound this shall symbolize the complete union of the nations. Thus 
are the Five Nations united completely and enfolded together, 
united into one head, one body and one mind. Therefore they shall 
labor, legislate and council together for the interest of future 
generations. 

The Lords of the Confederacy shall eat together from one bowl 
the feast of cooked beaver's tail. While they are eating they are 
to use no sharp utensils for if they should they might accidentally 
cut one another and bloodshed would follow. All measures must 
be taken to prevent the spilling of blood in any way. (15-XV, 
TLL). 

58 There are now the Five Nations Confederate Lords standing 
with joined hands in a circle. This signifies and provides that 
should any one of the Confederate Lords leave the council and 
this Confederacy his crown of deer's horns, the emblem of his 
Lordship title, together with his birthright, shall lodge on the arms 
of the L'nion Lords whose hands are so joined. He forfeits his 
title and the crown falls from his brow but it shall remain in the 
Confederacy. 

A further meaning of this is that if any time any one of the 
Confederate Lords choose to submit to the law of a foreign peo- 
ple he is no longer in but out of the Confederacy, and persons of 
this class shall be called " They have alienated themselves." Like- 
wise such persons who submit to laws of foreign nations shall for- 
feit all birthrights and claims on the Five Nations Confederacy and 
territory. 



46 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

You, the Five Nations Confederate Lords, be firm so that if a 
tree falls upon your joined arms it shall not separate you or weaken 
your hold. So shall the strength of the union be preserved. (16- 
XIV, TLL). 

59 A bunch of wampum shells on strings, three spans of the hand 
in length, the upper half of the bunch being white and the lower 
half black, and formed from equal contributions of the men of the 
Five Nations, shall be a token that the men have combined them- 
selves into one head, one body and one thought, and it shall also 
symbolize their ratification of the peace pact of the Confederacy, 
whereby the Lords of the Five Nations have established the Great 
Peace. 

The_ white portion of the shell strings represent the women and 
the black portion the men. The black portion, furthermore, is 
a token of power and authority vested in the men of the Five 
Nations. 

This string of wampum vests the people with the right to correct 
their erring Lords. In case a part or all the Lords pursue a course 
not vouched for by the people and heed not the third warning of 
their women relatives, then the matter shall be taken to the Gen- 
eral Council of the women of the Five Nations. If the Lords 
notified and warned three times fail to heed, then the case falls into 
the hands of the men of the Five Nations. The War Chiefs shall 
then, by right of such power and authority, enter the open council 
to warn the Lord or Lords to return from their wrong course. If 
the Lords heed the warning they shall say, " we will reply to- 
morrow." If then an answer is returned in favor of justice and 
in accord with this Great Law, then the Lords shall individually 
pledge themselves again by again furnishing the necessary shells 
for the pledge. Then shall the War Chief or Chiefs exhort the 
Lords urging them to be just and true. 

Should it happen that the Lords refuse to heed the third warn- 
ing, then two courses are open : either the men may decide in their 
council to depose the Lord or Lords or to club them to death with 
war clubs. Should they in their council decide to take the first 
course the War Chief shall address the Lord or Lords, saying: 
" Since you the Lords of the Five Nations have refused to return 
to the procedure of the Constitution, we now declare your seats 
vacant, we take ofif your horns, the token of your Lordship, and 
others shall be chosen and installed in your seats, therefore vacate 
vour seats." 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 47 

Should the men in their council adopt the second course, the 
War Chief shall order his men to enter the council, to take positions 
beside the Lords, sitting between them wherever possible. When 
this is accomplished the War Chief holding in his outstretched hand 
a bunch of black wampum strings shall say to the erring Lords : 
" So now. Lords of the Five United Nations, harken to these last 
words from your men. You have not heeded the warnings of the 
women relatives, you have not heeded the warnings of the General 
Council of women and you have not heeded the warnings of the 
men of the nations, all urging you to return to the right course of 
action. Since you are determined to resist and to withhold justice 
from your people there is only one course for us to adopt." At 
this point the War Chief shall let drop the bunch of black wampum 
and the men shall spring to their feet and club the erring Lords 
to death. Any erring Lord may submit before the War Chief 
lets fall the black wampum. Then his execution is withheld. 

The black wampum here used symbolizes that the power to exe- 
cute is buried but that it may be raised up again by the men. It is 
buried but when occasion arises they may pull it up and derive 
their power and authority to act as here described. (SPW 8i XII). 

60 A broad dark belt of wampum of thirty-eight rows, having a 
white heart in the center, on either side of which are two white 
squares all connected with the heart by white rows of beads shall 
be the emblem of the unity of the Five Nations. ^ 

The first of the squares on the left represents the Mohawk nation 
and its territory; the second square on the left and the one near 
the heart, represents the Oneida nation and its territory ; the white 
heart in the middle represents the Onondaga nation and its terri- 
tory, and it also means that the heart of the Five Nations is single 
in its loyalty to the Great Peace, that the Great Peace is lodged in 
the heart (meaning with Onondaga Confederate Lords), and that 
the Council Fire is to burn there for the Five Nations, and further, 
it means that the authority is given to advance the cause of peace 
whereby hostile nations out of the Confederacy shall cease warfare; 
the white square to the right of the heart represents the Cayuga 
nation and its territory and the fourth and last white square repre- 
sents the Seneca nation and its territory. 

White shall here symbolize that no evil or jealous thoughts shall 
creep into the minds of the Lords while in council under the Great 



1 This is the " Hiawatha Belt " purchased by John Boyd Thatcher of 
Albany and now in the Congressional Library. 



48 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Peace. White, the emblem of peace, love, charity and equity sur- 
rounds and guards the Five Nations. (84-EUC, i). 

61 Should a great calamity threaten the generations rising and 
living of the Five United Nations, then he w^ho is able to climb to 
the top of the Tree of the Great Long Leaves may do so. When, 
then, he reaches the top of the Tree he shall look about in all 
directions, and, should he see that evil things indeed are approach- 
ing, then he shall call to the people of the Five United Nations 
assembled beneath the Tree of the Great Long Leaves and say : 
"A calamity threatens your happiness." 

Then shall the Lords convene in council and discuss the impending 
evil. 

When all the truths relating to the trouble shall be fully known 
and found to be truths, then shall the people seek out a Tree of 
Ka-hon-ka-ah-go-nah,^ and when they shall find it they shall assem- 
ble their heads together and lodge for a time between its roots. 
Then, their labors being finished, they may hope for happiness for 
many days after. (II-85, EUC) . 

62 When the Confederate Council of the Five Nations declares 
for a reading of the belts of shell calling to mind these laws, they 
shall provide for the reader a specially made mat woven of the 
fibers of wild hemp. The mat shall not be used again, for such 
formality is called the honoring of the importance of tlie law. 
(XXXVI-36, TLL). 

63 Should two sons of opposite sides of the council fire agree 
in a desire to hear the reciting of the laws of the Great Peace and 
so refresh their memories in the way ordained by the founder of 
the Confederacy, they shall notify Adodarho. He then shall con- 
sult with five of his coactive Lords and they in turn shall consult 
their eight brethren. Then should they decide to accede to the 
request of the two sons from opposite sides of the Council Fire, 
Adodarhoh shall send messengers to notify the Chief Lords of each 
of the Five Nations. Then they shall despatch their War Chiefs 
to notify their brother and cousin Lords of the meeting and its 
time and place. 

When all have come and have assembled. Adodarhoh, in con- 
junction with his cousin Lords, shall appoint one Lord who shall 
repeat the laws of the Great Peace. Then shall they announce who 
they have chosen to repeat the laws of the Great Peace to the two 
sons. Then shall the chosen one repeat the laws of the Great 
Peace. (XLIII-43, TLL). 



A great swamp Elm. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 49 

64 At the ceremony of the installation of Lords if there is only- 
one expert speaker and singer of the law and the Pacification Hymn 
to stand at the council fire, then when this speaker and singer has 
finished addressing one side of the fire he shall go to the opposite 
side and reply to his own speech and song. He shall thus act for 
both sides of the fire until the entire ceremony has been completed. 
Such a speaker and singer shall be termed the " Two Faced " 
because he speaks and sings for both sides of the fire. (XLlX-49, 
TLL). 

65 I, Dekanawida, and the Union Lords, now uproot the tallest 
pine tree and into the cavity thereby made we cast all weapons of 
war. Into the depths of the earth, down into the deep underearth 
currents of water flowing to unknown regions we cast all the 
weapons of strife. We bury them from sight and we plant again 
the tree. Thus shall the Great Peace be established and hostilities 
shall no longer be known between the Five Nations but peace to 
the United People. 

Laws of adoption 

66 The father of a child of great comliness, learning, ability or 
specially loved because of some circumstance may, at the will of 
the child's clan, select a name from his own (the father's) clan 
and bestow it by ceremony, such as is provided. This naming 
shall be only temporary and shall be called, "A name hung about 
the neck." (Xn-96, EUC). 

67 Should any person, a member of the Five Nations' Confed- 
eracy, specially esteem a man or a woman of another clan or of a 
foreign nation, he may choose a name and bestow it upon that 
person so esteemed. The naming shall be in accord with the cere- 
mony of bestowing names. Such a name is only a temporary one 
and shall be called "A name hung about the neck." A short string 
of shells shall be delivered with the name as a record and a pledge. 
(XIV-97, EUC). 

68 Should any member of the Five Nations, a family or person 
belonging to a foreign nation submit a proposal for adoption into 
a clan of one of the Five Nations, he or they shall furnish a string 
of shells, a span in length, as a pledge to the clan into which he or 
they wish to be adopted. The Lords of the nation shall then con- 
sider the proposal and submit a decision. (XXI-104, EUC). 

69 Any member of the Five Nations who through esteem or 
other feeling wishes to adopt an individual, a family or number of 
families may offer adoption to him or them and if accepted the 



50 NEW YOKK STATE MUSEUM 

matter shall be brought to the attention of the Lords for confirma- 
tion and the Lords must confirm the adoption. (XXII-105, EUC). 

70 When the adoption of anyone shall have been confirmed by 
the Lords of the Nation, the Lords shall address the people of their 
nation and say : " Now you of our nation, be informed that such a 
person, such a family or such families have ceased forever to bear 
their birth nation's name and have buried it in the depths of the 
earth. Henceforth let no one of our nation ever mention the 
original name or nation of their birth. To do so will be to hasten 
the end of our peace. (XXIII-106, EUC). 

Laws of emigration 

71 When any person or family belonging to the Five Nations 
desires to abandon their birth nation and the territory of the Five 
Nations, they shall inform the Lords of their nation and the Con- 
federate Council of the Five Nations shall take cognizance of it. 
(XXXIX-39, TLL). 

72 When any person or any of the people of the Five Nations 
emigrate and reside in a region distant from the territory of the 
Five Nations Confederacy, the Lords of the Five Nations at will 
may send a messenger carrying a broad belt of black shells and 
when the messenger arrives he shall call the people together or 
address them personally displaying the belt of shells and they shall 
know that this is an order for them to return to their original 
homes and to their council fires. (XL-40, TLL). 

Rights of foreign nations 

'j^ The soil of the earth from one end of the land to the other 
is the property of the people who inhabit it. By birthright the 
Ofigwehonweh (Original beings) are the owners of the soil which 
they own and occupy and none other may hold it. The same law has 
been held from the oldest times. 

The Great Creator has made us of the one blood and of the same 
soil he made us and as only different tongues constitute different 
nations he established different hunting grounds and territories and 
made boundary lines between them. (LXIX-69, TLL). 

74 When any alien nation or individual is admitted into the Five 
Nations the admission shall be understood only to be a temporary 
one. Should the person or nation create loss, do wrong or cause 
suffering of any kind to endanger the peace of the Confederacy, 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 5 1 

the Confederate Lords shall order one of their war chiefs to repri- 
mand him or them and if a similar ofifence is again committed the 
offending party or parties shall be expelled from the territory of 
the Five United Nations. (XXVI-119, EUC). 

75 When a member of an alien nation comes to the territory 
of the Five Nations and seeks refuge and permanent residence, the 
Lords of the Nation to which he comes shall extend hospitality and 
make him a member of the nation. Then shall he be accorded equal 
rights and privileges in all matters except as after mentioned. 
(XXXVII-120, EUC). 

76 No body of alien people who have been adopted temporarily 
shall have a vote in the council of the Lords of the Confederacy, 
for only they who have been invested with Lordship titles may 
vote in the Council. Aliens have nothing by blood to make claim 
to a vote and should they have it, not knowing all the traditions 
of the Confederacy, might go against its Great Peace. In this 
manner the Great Peace would be endangered and perhaps be 
destroyed. (XXXVIII-121, EUC). 

yj When the Lords of the Confederacy decide to admit a foreign 
nation and an adoption is made, the Lords shall inform the adopted 
nation that its admission is only temporary. They shall also say 
to the nation that it must never try to control, to interfere with 
or to injure the Five Nations nor disregard the Great Peace or 
any of its rules or customs. That in no way should they cause 
disturbance or injury. Then should the adopted nation disregard 
these injunctions, their adoption shall be annulled and they shall 
be expelled. 

The expulsion shall be in the following manner: The coun:il 
shall appoint one of their War Chiefs to convey the message of 
annulment and he shall say, "You (naming the nation) listen to 
me while I speak. I am here to inform you again of the will of the 
Five Nations' Council. It was clearly made known to you at a 
former time. Now the Lords of the Five Nations have decided 
to expel you and cast you out. We disown you now and annul 
your adoption. Therefore you must look for a path in which to 
go and lead away all your people. It was you, not we, who com- 
mitted wrong and caused this sentence of annulment. So then 
go your way and depart from the territory of the Five Nations 
and from the Confederacy." (XXXIX-122, EUC). 

78 Whenever a foreign nation enters the Confederacy or accepts 
the Great Peace, the Five Nations and the foreign nation shall 



52 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

enter into an agreement and compact by which the foreign nation 
shall endeavor to pursuade other nations to accept the Great 
Peace. (XLVI-46, TLL). 

Rights and powers of war 

79 Skanawatih shall be vested with a double office, duty and 
with double authority. One-half of his being shall hold the Lord- 
ship title and the other half shall hold the title of War Chief. 
In the event of war he shall notify the five War Chiefs of the 
Confederacy and command them to prepare for war and have their 
men ready at the appointed time and place for engagement with 
the enemy of the Great Peace. (I-70, SPW). 

80 When the Confederate Council of the Five Nations has for 
its object the establishment of the Great Peace among the people 
of an outside nation and that nation refuses to accept the Great 
Peace, then by such refusal they bring a declaration of war upon 
themselves from the Five Nations. Then shall the Five Nations 
seek to establish the Great Peace by a conquest of the rebellious 
nation. (II-71, SPW). 

81 When the men of the Five Nations, now called forth to be- 
come warriors, are ready for battle with an obstinate opposing 
nation that has refused to accept the Great Peace, then one of the 
five War Chiefs shall be chosen by the warriors of the Five 
Nations to lead the army into battle. It shall be the duty of the 
War Chief so chosen to come before his warriors and address 
them. His aim shall be to impress upon them the necessity of good 
behavior and strict obedience to all the commands of the War 
Chiefs. He shall deliver an oration exhorting them with great 
zeal to be brave and courageous and never to be guilty of 
cowardice. At the conclusion of his oration he shall march for- 
ward and commence the War Song and he shall sing: 

Now I am greatly surprised 
And, therefore, I shall use it, — • 
The power of my War Song. 

I am of the Five Nations 
And I shall make supplication 
To the Almighty Creator. 
He has furnished this army. 
My warriors shall be mighty 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 53 

In the strength of the Creator.^ 
Between him and my song they are 
For it was he who gave the song 
This war song that I sing! 

(III-72, SPW). 

82 When the warriors of the Five Nations arc on an expedition 
against an enemy, the War Chief shall sing the War Song as he 
approaches the country of the enemy and not cease until his scouts 
have reported that the army is near the enemies' lines when the 
War Chief shall approach with great caution and prepare for the 
attack. (IV-73, SPW). 

83 When peace shall have been established by the termination 
of the war against a foreign nation, then the War Chief shall cause 
all the weapons of war to be taken from the nation. Then shall the 
Great Peace be established and that nation shall observe all the 
rules of the Great Peace for all time to come. ( V-74, SPW). 

84 Whenever a foreign nation is conquered or has by their own 
will accepted the Great Peace their own system of internal govern- 
ment may continue, but they must cease all warfare against other 
nations. (VI-75, SPW). 

85 Whenever a war against a foreign nation is pushed until that 
nation is about exterminated because of its refusal to accept the 
Great Peace and if that nation shall by its obstinacy become ex- 
terminated, all their rights, property and territory shall become the 
property of the Five Nations. (Vn-76, SPW). 

86 W^henever a foreign nation is conquered and the survivors 
are brought into the territory of the Five Nations' Confederacy 
and placed under the Great Peace the tw^o shall be known as the 
Conqueror and the Conquered. A symbolic relationship shall be 
devised and be placed in some symbolic position. The conquered 
nation shall have no voice in the councils of the Confederacy in 
the body of the Lords. (VIII-77, SPW). 

87 When the War of the Five Nations on a foreign rebellious 
nation is ended, peace shall be restored to that nation by a with- 
drawal of all their w^eapons of war by the War Chief of the Five 
Nations. When all the terms of peace shall have been agreed upon 
a state of friendship shall be established. ( IX-78, SPW). 



1 It will be recalled that when the Eries demanded by what oower the Five 
Nations demanded their surrender, the Iroquois replied "The Master of Life 
fights for us ! " 



54 l^'EW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

88 When the proposition to estabhsh the Great Peace is made 
to a foreign nation it shall be done in mutual council. The foreign 
nation is to be persuaded by reason and urged to come into the 
Great Peace. If the Five Nations fail to obtain the consent of the 
nation at the first council a second council shall be held and upon 
a second failure a third council shall be held and this third council 
shall end the peaceful methods of persuasion. At the third council 
the War Chief of the Five Nations shall address the Chief of the 
foreign nation and request him three times to accept the Great 
Peace. If refusal steadfastly follows the War Chief shall let the 
bunch of white lake shells drop from his outstretched hand to the 
ground and shall bound quickly forward and club the offending 
chief to death. War shall thereby be declared and the War Chief 
shall have his warriors at his back to meet any emergency. War 
must continue until the contest is won by the Five Nations (X-79, 
SPW). 

89 When the Lords of the Five Nations propose to meet in con- 
ference with a foreign nation with proposals for an acceptance of 
the Great Peace, a large band of warriors shall conceal themselves 
in a secure place safe from the espionage of the foreign nation but 
as near at hand as possible. Two warriors shall accompany the 
Union Lord who carries the proposals and these warriors shall be 
especially cunning. Should the Lord be attacked, these warriors 
shall hasten back to the army of warriors with the news of the 
calamity which fell through the treachery of the foreign nation. 
(XI-80, SPW). 

90 When the Five Nations' Council declares war any Lord of 
the Confederacy may enlist with the warriors by temporarily re- 
nouncing his sacred Lordship title which he holds through the elec- 
tion of his women relatives. The title then reverts to them and 
they may bestow it upon another temporarily until the war is over 
when the Lord, if living, may resume his title and seat in the 
Council. (XII-82, SPW). 

■ 91 A certain wampum belt of black beads shall be the emblem of 
the authority of the Five War Chiefs to take up the weapons of 
war and with their men to resist invasion. This shall be called a 
war in defense of the territory. (XIV-83, SPW). 

Treason or secession of a nation 

92 If a nation, part of a nation, or more than one nation within 
the Five Nations should in any way endeavor to destroy the Great 
Peace by neglect or violating its laws and resolve to dissolve the 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 55 

Confederacy, such a nation or such nations shall be deemed guilty 
of treason and called enemies of the Confederacy and the Great 
Peace. 

It shall then be the duty of the Lords of the Confederacy who 
remain faithful to resolve to warn the offending people. They shall 
be warned once and if a second warning is necessary they shall be 
driven from the territory of the Confederacy by the War Chiefs 
and his men. (III-86, EUC). 

Rights of the people of the Five Nations 

93 Whenever a specially important matter or a great emergency 
is presented before the Confederate Council and the nature of the 
matter affects the entire body of Five Nations, threatening their 
utter ruin, then the Lords of the Confederacy must submit the 
matter to the decision of their people and the decision of the people 
shall affect the decision of the Confederate Council. This decision 
shall be a confirmation of the voice of the people. (XV-84, SPW). 

94 The men of every clan of the Five Nations shall have a Coun- 
cil Fire ever burning in readiness for a council of the clan. When 
it seems necessary for a council to be held to discuss the welfare 
of the clans, then the men may gather about the fire. This council 
shall have the same rights as the council of the women. (V-88, 
EUC). 

95 The women of every clan of the Five Nations shall have a 
Council Fire ever burning in readiness for a council of the clan. 
When in their opinion it seems necessary for the interest of the 
people they shall hold a council and their decision and recommenda- 
tion shall be introduced before the Council of Lords by the War 
Chief for its consideration. (IV-87, EUC). 

96 All the Clan council fires of a nation or of the Five Nations 
may unite into one general council fire, or delegates from all the 
council fires may be appointed to unite in a general council for 
discussing the interests of the people. The people shall have the 
right to make appointments and to delegate their power to others 
of their number, \^'hen their council shall have come to a con- 
clusion on any matter, their decision shall be reported to the Coun- 
cil of the Nation or to the Confederate Council (as the case may 
require) by the War Chief or the War Chiefs. (VI-89, EUC). ' 

97 Before the real people united their nations, each nation had 
its council fires. Before the Great Peace their councils were held. 
The five Council Fires shall continue to burn as before and they 



56 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

are not quenched. The Lords of each nation in future shall settle 
their nation's affairs at this council fire governed always by the 
laws and rules of the council of the Confederacy and by the Great 
Peace. (VII-90, EUC). 

98 If either a nephew or a niece see an irregularity in the per- 
formance of the functions of the Great Peace and its laws, in the 
Confederate Council or in the conferring of Lordship titles in an 
improper way, through their War Chief they may demand that 
such actions become subject to correction and that the matter con- 
form to the ways prescribed by the laws of the Great Peace. 
(LXVII-67, TLL). 

Religious ceremonies protected 

99 The rites and festivals of each nation shall remain undis- 
turbed and shall continue as before because they were given by 
the people of old times as useful and necessary for the good of 
men. (XVI-99, EUC). 

100 It shall be the duty of the Lords of each brotherhood to con- 
fer at the approach of the time of the Midwinter Thanksgiving and 
to notify their people of the approaching festival. They shall hold 
a council over the matter and arrange its details and begin the 
Thanksgiving five days after the moon of Dis-ko-nah is new. The 
people shall assemble at the appointed place and the nephews shall 
notify the people of the time and the place. From the beginning 
to the end the Lords shall preside over the Thanksgiving and 
address the people from time to time. (XVII-ioo, EUC). 

loi It shall be the duty of the appointed managers of the Thanks- 
giving festivals to do all that is needful for carrying out the duties 
of the occasions. 

The recognized festivals of Thanksgiving shall be the Midwinter 
Thanksgiving, the Maple or Sugar-making Thanksgiving, the 
Raspberry Thanksgiving, the Strawberry Thanksgiving, the Corn- 
planting Thanksgiving, the Corn Hoeing Thanksgiving, the Little 
Festival of Green Corn, the Great Festival of Ripe Corn and the 
complete Thanksgiving for the Harvest. 

Each nation's festivals shall be held in their Long Houses. 
(XVIII-ioT, EUC). 

102 When the Thanksgiving for the Green Corn comes the 
special managers, both the men and women, shall give it careful 
attention and do their duties properly. (XIX-102, EUC). 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 57 

103 When the Ripe Corn Thanksgiving is celebrated the Lords 
of the Nation must give it the same attention as they give to the 
Midwinter Thanksgiving. (XX-103, EUC). 

104 Whenever any man proves himself by his good life and his 
knowledge of good things, naturally fitted as a teacher of good 
things, he shall be recognized by the Lords as a teacher of peace and 
religion and the people shall hear him. (X-93, EUC). 

The installation song 

105 The song used in installing the new Lord of the Confederacy 
shall be sung by Adodarhoh and it shall be : 

" Haii, haii Agwah wi-yoh 

" A-kon-he-watha, 

" Ska-we-ye-se-go-wah 
" " Yon-gwa-wih 
" " Ya-kon-he-wa-tha 

Haii, haii. It is good indeed 
(That) a broom, — 
A great wing, 
" " It is given me 
" For a sweeping 
instrument. 

(LVIII-58, TLL). 

106 Whenever a person properly entitled desires to learn the 
Pacification Song he is privileged to do so but he must prepare a 
feast at which his teachers may sit with him and sing. The feast 
is provided that no misfortune may befall them for singing the 
song on an occasion when no chief is installed. (XXIV-107, 
EUC). 

Protection of the house 

107 A certain sign shall be known to all the people of the Five 
Nations which shall denote that the owner or occupant of a house 
is absent. A stick or pole in a slanting or leaning position shall 
indicate this and be the sign. Every person not entitled to enter 
the house by right of living within it upon seeing such a sign shall 
not approach the house either by day or by night but shall keep as 
far away as h'is business will permit. (IX-92, EUC). 



58 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Funeral addresses 

io8 At the funeral of a Lord of the Confederacy, say : " Now 
we become reconciled as you start away. You were once a Lord 
of the Five Nations' Confederacy and the United People trusted 
you. Now we release you for it is true that it is no longer possible 
for us to walk about together on the earth. Now, therefore, we 
lay it (the body) here. Here we lay it away. Now then we say 
to you, ' Persevere onward to the place where the Creator dwells 
in peace. Let not the things of the earth hinder you. Let nothing 
that transpired while yet you lived hinder you. In hunting you once 
took delight ; in the game of Lacrosse you once took delight and in 
the feasts and pleasant occasions your mind was amused, but now 
do not allow thoughts of these things to give you trouble. Let not 
your relatives hinder you and also let not your friends and asso-- 
ciates trouble your mind. Regard none of these things.' 

" Now then, in turn, you here present who were related to this 
man and you who were his friends and associates, behold the path 
that is yours also! Soon we ourselves will be left in that place. 
For this reason hold yourselves in restraint as you go from place to 
place. In your actions and in your conversation do no idle thing. 
Speak not idle talk neither gossip. Be careful of this and speak 
not and do not give way to evil behavior. One year is the time 
that you must abstain from unseemly levity but if you can not do 
this for ceremony, ten days is the time to regard these things for 
respect." 

109 At the funeral of a War Chief, say : 

" Now we become reconciled as you start away. You were once 
a war chief of the Five Nations' Confederacy and the United 
People trusted you as their guard from the enemy. (The remainder 
is the same as the address at the funeral of a Lord). (XXVII-iio, 
EUC). 

no At the funeral of a Warrior say: 

" Now we become reconciled as you start away. Once you were 
a devoted provider and protector of your family and you were ever 
ready to take part in battles for the Five Nations' Confederacy. 
The United People trusted you. (The remainder is the same as 
the address at the funeral of a Lord). (XXVIII-ili, EUC). 

1 1 1 At the funeral of a young man, say : 

" Now we become reconciled as you start away. In the beginning 
of your career you are taken away and the flower of your life is 
withered away. (The remainder is the same as the address at the 
funeral of a Lord). (XXIX-112, EUC). 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 59 

112 At the funeral of a chief woman say: 

" Now we become reconciled as you start away. You were once 
a chief woman in the Five Nations' Confederacy. You once were 
a mother of the nations. Now we release you for it is true that it 
is no longer possible for us to walk about together on the earth. 
Now, therefore, we lay it (the body) here. Here we lay it away. 
Now then we say to you, ' Persevere onward to the place where 
the Creator dwells in peace. Let not the things of the earth hinder 
you. Let nothing that transpired while you lived hinder you. 
Looking after your family was a sacred duty and you were 
faithful. You were one of the many joint heirs of the Lordship 
titles. Feastings were yours and you had pleasant occasions. . . .' 
(The remainder is the same as the address at the funeral of a 
Lord). (XXX-113, EUC). 

113 At the funeral of a woman of the people, say: 

" Now we become reconciled as you start away. You were once 
a woman in the flower of life and the bloom is now withered away. 
You once held a sacred position as a mother of the nation. (Etc.) 
Looking after your family was a sacred duty and you were faith- 
ful. Feastings . . . (Etc.) (The remainder is the same as 
the address at the funeral of a Lord.) (XXXI-114, EUC). 

114 At the funeral of an infant or young woman say: 

'' Now we become reconciled as you start away. You were a 
tender bud and gladdened our hearts for only a few days. Now 
the bloom has withered away . . . (Etc.) Let none of the things 
that transpired on earth hinder you. Let nothing that happened 
while you lived hinder you. (The remainder is the same as the 
address at the funeral of a Lord). (XXXII-115, EUC). 

115 When an infant dies within three days, mourning shall con- 
tinue only five days. Then shall you gather the little boys and 
girls at the house of mourning and at the funeral feast a speaker 
shall address the children and bid them be happy once more, though 
by a death, gloom has been cast over them. Then shall the black 
clouds roll away and the sky shall show blue once more. Then 
shall the children be again in sunshine. (XXXIII-116, EUC). 

116 When a dead person is brought to the burial place, the 
speaker on the opposite side of the Council Fire shall bid the 
bereaved family cheer their minds once again and rekindle their 
hearth fires in peace, to put their house in order and once again be 
in brightness for darkness has covered them. He shall say that 
the black clouds shall roll awav and that the bright blue skv is 



6o NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

visible once more. Therefore shall they be in peace in the sunshine 
again. (XXXIV-117, EUC). 

117 Three strings of shell one span in length shall be employed 
in addressing the assemblage at the burial of the dead. The 
speaker shall say : 

" Hearken you who are here, this body is to be covered. As- 
semble in this place again ten days hence for it is the decree of the 
Creator that mourning shall cease when ten days have expired. 
Then shall a feast be made." 

Then at the expiration of ten days the Speaker shall say: " Con- 
tinue to listen you who are here. The ten days of mourning have 
expired and your minds must now be freed of sorrow as before 
the loss of the relative. The relatives have decided to make a 
little compensation to those who have assisted at the funeral. It 
is a mere expression of thanks. This is to the one who did the 
cooking while the body was lying in the house. Let her come for- 
ward and receive this gift and be dismissed from the; task. In 
substance this shall be repeated for every one who assisted in any 
way until all have been remembered. (XXXV-118, EUC). 



THE CODE OF DEKANAHWIDEH 

TOGETHER WITH 

THE TRADITION OF THE ORIGIN OF THE FIVE 
NATIONS' LEAGUE 

Prepared by the committee of chiefs appointed by the Six 
Nations' Council of Grand River. Canada, and adopted by Council 
of Chiefs, July 3. 1900. 

The committee was as follows: 

Chief Peter Powless Mohawk 

Chief J. W. M. Elliott Mohawk 

Chief Nicodemus Porter Oneida 

Chief Thomas William Echo Onondaga 

Chief William Wage Cayuga 

Chief Abram Charles Cayuga 

Chief John A. Gibson Seneca 

Chief Josiah Hill Tuscarora 

Chief John Danford Oneida of the Thames 

Chief Isiah Sickles Oneida of the Thames 

INTRODUCTORY 

For several hundred years the Five Nations (since 1715 the Six 
Nations) have existed without a written history chronicled by them- 
selves, of their ancient customs, rites and ceremonies, and of the 
formation of the Iroquois League. Books have been written by 
white men in the past, but these have been found to be too volumin- 
ous and inaccurate in some instances. 

Of the existence of the Five Nations therefore, before the forma- 
tion of the League of Great Peace by Dekanahwideh, living as they 
did apart from one another as separate nations and having nothing 
in comn'on. much might be written, but at this juncture our object 
will only admit of the relation of the formation of the League of 
the Five Nations, which as far as can be ascertained took place 
about the year 1390. 

The purpose for which this league or confederation of the Five 
Nations was organized was to enable them to protect themselves 
against the invasion of their vast domains by other nations who 



62 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

were hostile to them, and also the formation of a form of govern- 
ment among themselves. Ever since the birth of the league this 
government has existed with but very slight modifications. 

The student of ethnology may find something which may be of 
interest to him in this record, compiled as it is by the elder cere- 
monial chiefs who are now among those who are ruling the people 
of the Six Nations as chiefs or lords, under the old regime of 
dynastical lords in perpetuation of that system of government by 
hereditary succession as it was constituted by Dekanahwideh and 
his associates at the time of the formation of the League of the 
Iroquois. 

This account is not intended to be a concise history of this inter- 
esting people, but simply a record of those interesting traditions 
which have been for centuries handed down from father to son in 
connection with the formation of the league. 

There is no doubt in the minds of the writers of this preface 
that many of the ancient traditions of the Six Nations have become 
much modified, and some have been long relegated to oblivion owing 
to the fact that in the earlier history of these peoples there were for 
a long time no members of the various nations capable of rendering 
these traditions in writing and thus preserving them intact to their 
posterity. 

It is a noteworthy fact that the League of the Five Nations (now 
known as the Six Nations) as constituted centuries ago by De- 
kanahwideh and his associates, has been followed in accordance 
with the rules of the confederacy as laid down by this founder of 
the league, and that the installation of the lords (chiefs) as rulers 
of the people as laid down in these unwritten rules hundreds of 
years ago is still strictly observed and adhered to- by the chiefs of 
the Six Nations and their people. 

With reference to the origin or birth, character and doings of 
Dekanahwideh as herein chronicled, it will be observed that they 
present an analogy or similarity to Hebrew biblical history and 
teachings. This is portrayed strongly in the narration of the 
birth of Dekanahwideh and also in certain extraordinary powers 
which he is attributed to have possessed. 

There is little doubt that some of this influence was brought 
about as a result of the labors and teachings of the Jesuit fathers 
among them. In the early discovery of the Five Nations the 
Jesuit fathers made an efifort to christianize them. 

These precepts as taught and inculcated in the minds of the peo- 
ple by these missionaries have been assimilated to some extent and 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 63 

wrought into their own religious belief, as well perhaps as into the 
story of the traditional nativity of this founder of the Iroquois 
Confederacy. 

It was in recognition of the fact that all nations have a traditional 
history similar to this one (and some of them have long since be- 
come enlightened and educated to better things) which originated 
with these people while they were yet in a crude state (notably, for 
example, may be cited th^_^nglish, Irish and Scotch legends and tra- 
ditions) that this small fragment of Iroquois traditional history was 
written by the chiefs, so that they might preserve it as other na- 
tions have done. 

It is only natural for a people undergoing a transition from a 
state of barbarism to that of civilization and Christianity to evince 
a desire to have their past mythological legends and crude history 
preserved. 

It was therefore at the recjuest of, and by the authority of the 
Six Nations' Council, that that portion of the traditional history of 
this people relating to the formation of the League of the Five 
Nations, together with the condolence ceremonies, now used in the 
creation and induction into ofifice of new chiefs as successors to 
deceased members of the council, was written from dictation by the 
ceremonial chiefs as follows: Chiefs Peter Powless, Mohawk; Nico- 
demus Porter, Oneida ; William Wage and Abram Charles, Cayuga ; 
John A. Gibson, Seneca ; Thomas William Echo, Onondaga ; and 
Josiah Hill, Tuscarora. Chiefs Josiah Hill and J. W. M. Elliott 
were appointed to act as secretaries, wdth the express purpose of 
having it published by the Department of Indian Afifairs, so that 
the future generations of the people of the Six Nations may have 
preserved to them these traditions of their forefathers which other- 
wise in time would become lost. 

Signed at Ohsweken Council House, Six Nations Reserve, On- 
tario, Canada, August 17, 1900. 

Josiah Hill, Secretary Six Nations' Council. 

J. W. M. Elliott, Mohawk Chief, Secretary of the ceremonial 
committee of Indian rites and customs. 

Indian words 

The meanings of some of the more difficult Indian words to be 
found in this work are as follows : 

1 A-ka-rah-ji-ko-wah — A great swamp elm 

2 Ska-reh-heh-se-go-wah — The great tall tree 



64 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

3 Jo-neh-rah-de-se-go-wah — The great long leaves 

4 Djok-de-he-sko-na — The great white roots 

5 Ka-ya-neh-renh-ko-wah — The great peace 

6 Karihwiyoh — Good tidings of peace and power 

7 Rodiyanesho'o — Lords or chiefs 

8 Hoyane (Royaneh) — Lord or chief 

9 Ehkanehdodeh — A pine tree, applied to earned or self-made 
chiefs 

lo Kwa-ah — The mourning cry used by a chief warrior to con- 
vey the news of the death of a lord or head chief 
1 1 Kanekonketshwaserah — The condolence ceremony used upon 
the death of a lord or chief 



THE TRADITIONAL NARRATIVE 



ORIGIN OF THE CONFEDERATION OF THE FIVE 
NATIONS 

COMMONLY KNOWN AS THE IROQUOIS 

Together with an account of the ancient customs, usages and ceremonies 
in use by these nations in the choice and installation into office of their 
Ro-de-ya-ner-shoh (lords or chiefs), including traditions relating to the lives 
and characters of Dekanahwideh, the framer of the league, Hay-yonh-wa-tha 
(Hiawatha), the lawgiver, Tha-do-da-ho and other leaders. 

The peculiar beginning of the Great Peace/ or the Great League 
of the Five Nations at a time most ancient, is here told. 

The name of the place mentioned as the birthplace of Dekanah- 
wideh- was called Kah-ha-nah-yenh;^ somewhere in the neighbor- 
hood of the Bay of Quinte. 

According to tradition, a woman* was living in tliat neighborhood 
who had one daughter of stainless character who did not travel 
away from home, but remained with her mother constantly, and 
when she had attained the age of womanhood she had held no 
manner of intercourse wath any man. In the course of time, not- 
withstanding, she showed signs of conception and her mother was 
very much aggrieved. The mother, therefore, spoke to her daughter 
and said : " I am going to ask you a question and I want you to tell 
me the truth. What has happened to you and how is it that you are 
going to bear a child?" Then the daughter replied and said, 
■' ^lother I will tell you the truth, I do not know how^ I became with 
child." ' 

Then the mother said : " The reply you give me is not sufficient 
to reinove my grief. I am sure that you did not tell me the full 
truth concerning what I asked you." Then the daughter replied: 
" I have indeed told you the whole truth concerning what you asked 
me." Then the sorrowing mother said: " Of a truth, my daughter, 
you have no love for me." 



1 Gaya"nasshago, in Onondaga ; Gayanes'sha"gowa, in Seneca. Derived 
from Gayanes'sha, A compelling rule of virtue, and gowa, great, exalted. 

2 Dekanawi'da. Tn'o water currents flowing together. 

3 Kanye°'ge (Onon.), Among the flints. Flinty peace, cf. Hadineye"ge'ga, 
They are flint people. 

* No father or husband; that is, no male is mentioned in this family 
until Dekanahwideh appears. 

^ A virgin (female) is called deyen'nowadon' ; (masc.) deha"nowa'do°' 
meaning. He is hidden ; from nowa'do"', hidden. Ye'wayei' is the word for 
pure. 



66 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Then she began to ill-treat her daughter, and then the daughter 
also began to feel aggrieved because of this ill-treatment from her 
mother. 

It so happened that as the time approached when the daughter 
would deliver the child, that the mother dreamed ' that she saw a 
man whom she did not know, and that he said that he appeared as 
a messenger to her on account of her troubled mind, caused by the 
condition of her daughter who had in so mysterious a manner con- 
ceived a child. 

" I am here to deliver to you a message and now I will ask you 
to cease your grieving and trouble of mind, and the ill-treatment 
of your daughter from day to day because it is indeed a fact that 
your daughter does not know how she became with child. I will 
tell you what has happened. It is the wish of the Creator that she 
should bear a child, and when you will see the male child you shall 
call him Dekanahwideh. The reason you shall give him that name 
is because this child will reveal to men-beings (Ofig'weo"we'), the 
Good Tidings of Peace and Power - from Heaven, and the Great 
Peace shall rule and govern on earth, and I will charge you that you 
and your daughter should be kind to him becauses he has an im- 
portant mission to perform in the world, and when he grows up to 
)e_a_man do not prevent him from leaving home." 

Then the old woman, (lagen'tci) asked the messenger, what of- 
fice the child should hold. 

The messenger answered and said : " His mission is for peace 
and life to the people both on earth and in heaven." 

When the old woman woke up the next morning she spoke to 
her daughter and said : " My daughter, I ask you to pardon me for 
all the ill-treatment I have given you because I have now been satis- 
fied that you told me the truth when you told me that you did not 
know how you got the child which you are about to deliver." 

Then the daughter also was made glad, and when she was de- 
livered of the child, it was as had been predicted ; the child was a 
male child, and the grandmother called him Dekanahwideh. 

The child grew up rapidly, and when he had become a young 
man he said : " The time has come when I should begin to perform 
my duty in this world. I will therefore begin to build my canoe 
and by tomorrow I must have it completed because there is work 
for me to do tomorrow when I go away to the eastward." 



^ She dreamed, waagoi'she'^dukse"a. To guess the meaning of a dream, 
third person, plural, present, Hodinowaiya'ha. 

2 Ne"ga'ihwiio'ne"skan'non'khu (Seneca), literally. The good message (or 
edict), the power. 



THE COXSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIOXS 67 

Then he hegaii to Ijuild his canoe out of a white rock, and when 
he had completed it. Dekanahwideh said: " 1 am ready now to go 
away from home and I will tell you that there is a tree' on top of 
the hill and you shall have that for a sis^n whenever you wish to find 
out whether I shall he li\ing or dead. Vou will take an axe and 
chop the tree and if the tree flows hlood- from the cut, you will 
therehy know that I am heheaded and killed, hut if you find no 
hlood running from this tree after you have chopi)ed a chip from 
it. then }0u may know that my mission was successful. The reason 
that this will happen is he.ause I came to stop forever the wanton 
shedding of hlood among human heings." 

Then Dekanahwideh also said : " Come to the shore of the lake 
and see me start away." 

So his mother and his grandmother went together with him and 
hel])ed to pull the hoat to the lake and as they stood at the lake. 
Dekanahwideh said : " Good bye, my mothers, for I am about to 
leave you for I am to go for a long time. \\"hen I return I will 
not come this way." 

Then the grandmother said " How are you going to travel since 
your canoe is made out of stone. It will not float." 

Then Dekanahwideh said, " This will be the first sign of wonder 
that man will behold ; a canoe made out of stone will float." 

Then he bade them farewell, put his canoe in the lake and got 
in. Then he paddled away to the eastward and the grandmother 
and his mother with wonder beheld him and saw that his canoe 
was going swiftly. In a few moments he disap]:)eared out of their 
sight. 

It happened at that time a party of hunters had a camp on the 
south side of the lake now known as Ontario and one of the party 
went toward the lake and stood on the bank of the lake, and be- 
held the object coming toward him at a distance, and the man could 
not understand what it was that was approaching him ; shortly 
afterwards he understood that it was a canoe, and saw a man in 
it, and the moving object was coming directly toward where he 
stood, and wdien the man (it was Dekanahwideh) reached the 
shore he came out of his boat and climbed up the bank. 

Then Dekanahwideh asked the man what had caused them to be 
where thev were, and the man answered and said : " We are here 



1 Djirhonatharadado"'. 

-That men enter into or become trees is an old -Iroquois conccpt'on. The 
sa]) of the tree becomes l)lood that flows when the tree is injured. 



68 NEW VOliK STATE MUSEUM 

for a double object. We are here hunting game for our hving and 
also because there is a great strife in our settlement." 

Then Dekanahwideh said, " You will now return to the place 
from whence you came. The reason that this occurs is because 
the Good Tidings of Peace and Friendship have come to the people, 
and you will find all strife removed from your settlement when you 
go back to your home. And I want you to tell your chief that the 
Ka-rih-wi-yoh^ (Good Tidings of Peace and Power) have come 
and if he asks you from whence came the Good Tidings of Peace 
and Power, you will say that the Messenger of the Good Tidings 
of Peace and Power will come in a few days. 

Then the man said : " Who are you now speaking to me ? " 

Dekanahwideh answered : " It is I who came from the west and 
am going eastward and am called Dekanahwideh in the world." 

Then the man wondered and beheld his canoe and saw that his 
canoe was made out of white stone. 

Then Dekanahwideh said, " I will go and visit Tyo-den-he deh ^ 
first." Dekanahwideh then went down the bank and got into his 
boat, and passed on. Then the man also turned away and went 
home, and when he came back to the camp he said : " I saw a strange 
man coming from the lake with a canoe made out of white stone 
and when he landed he came up the bank and I had a conversation 
with him. First, he asked me where I came from and when I told 
him he understood everything.^ Then he said : " You will all go 
home for there is now peace, and all strife has been removed from 
the settlement." 

Then the party went home and as soon as they reached home, 
they went and told the Royaner * (lord) and said that the Good 
Tidings of Peace and Power had come. Then the lord asked the 
speaker who told him the message and then he said that he saw a 
man who was called Dekanahwideh in the world. Then the lord 
asked him from whence the Good Tidings of Peace and Strength 
were coming. 



1 Karhihwiio, or in Seneca, Ne"Ga'ihwiio, meaning a proclamation of good 

. ■ if.T.lly the Avord is interpreted. A good message. The rnis- 
- ■-■•-'-■r'=- n<-f^ tne ^vnrA n^n-i-hwi-io for Gospel. The power of the new civil 
government is called sken'no'^', meaning inherent potence. 

2 Tiodenhe'de, meaning He (having died) lives again, cf. Siga'hediis, He 
resurrects, used as a name for Christ. 

3 Dekanawida is reputed to have been a clairvoyant. 

4 Royaner is hoya'ne in Seneca. The Mohawk root-equivalent is Ya"nerhe. 
Royaner means excellent, noble, good, exalted, pure. Thus as a title the 
name is translated Lord. Missionaries so use the name, cf. Hale Book of 
Rites, p. 65. 



THE COXSTITUTIOX OF THE FIVE NATIONS 69 

Then the man said: " It is coming and will come soon." 

Then the lord said: " Where did you see the man?" lie replied, 
" I saw him in the lake with his canoe ; he came from the west and 
he is going eastward." 

Then the lord began to wonder and said that he thought the 
settlement should remain in silence, for all would be glad and satis- 
fied. 

Dekanahwideh continued his journey and came to where the 
great wizard Toh-do-dah-ho^ lived. This man was possessed with 
great power as a wizard and no man could come to him without 
endangering his life and it is related that even the fowls of the air 
whenever they flew directly over his place of abode would die and 
fall down on his premises, and that if he saw a man approaching 
him he was sure to destroy him or kill him. This man was a 
cannibal, and had left the settlement to which he belonged for a 
long time and lived by himself in an isolated place. 

Dekanahwideh came^ and approached the abode of the cannibal 
and saw him carrying a human body into his house and shortly 
he saw him come out again and go down to the river and draw 
some water. Dekanahwideh went closer and when he had come to 
the house he went up onto the roof and from the chimney opening^ 
he looked in and saw the owner come back with a pail of water, 
put up a kettle on the fireplace to cook his meal and after it was 
cooked he saw him take the kettle from the fire and place it at the 
end of the fireplace and say to himself, " I suppose it is now time 
for me to have my meal and after I am finished I will go where I 
am required on business." 

Dekanahwideh moved still closer over the smoke hole and looked 
straight down into the kettle. The man Tah-do-dah-ho was then 
moving around the house and when he came back to take some of 
the meat from the kettle he looked into it and saw that a man was 
looking at him from out of the kettle. This was the reflection of 
Dekanahwideh. Then the man Tah-do-dah-ho moved back and 
sat down near the corner of the house and began to think seriously 
and he thought that it was a most wonderful thing which had hap- 
pened. He said to himself that such a thing had never occurred 
before as long as he had been living in the house. " I did not 



1 Thadoda'ho. 

2 He came on a tour of inspection. The Onondaga version says it was 
Hiawatha. 

3 Albert Cusick, the Onondaga informant, says this incident is an interpola- 
tion. 



yO NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

know that I was so strange a man," he said. " My mode of Uving 
must be wrong." Then he said : " Let me look again and be sure 
that what I have seen is true." Then he arose, went to the kettle 
and looked into it again, and he saw the same object — the face 
of a great man and it was looking at him. Then he took the kettle 
and went out and went toward the hillside and he emptied it there. 

Then Dekanahwideh came down from the roof and made great 
haste toward the hillside, and when Tha-do-dah-ho came up the 
hill he met Dekanahwideh. 

Dekanahwideh asked Tah-do-dah-ho where he came from and he 
said, " I had cooked my meal and I took the kettle from the fire 
and placed it on the floor. I thought that I would take some of the 
meat out of the kettle and then I saw a man's face looking at me 
from the kettle. I do not know what had happened; I only know 
such a thing never occurred to me before as long as I have been 
living in this house. Now I have come to the conclusion that I 
must be wrong in the way I am and the way I have been living. 
That is why I carried the kettle out of my house and emptied it 
over there by the stump. I was returning when I met you." Then 
he said, " From whence did you come?" 

Dekanahwideh answered, 'T came from the west and am going 
eastward." 

Then the man said, " Who are you that is thus speaking to me ? " 

Then Dekanahwideh said, " It is he who is called Dekanahwideh 
in this world." Dekanahwideh then asked : " From whence have 
you come? " 

The man then said : " There is a settlement to which I belong 
but I left that settlement a long time ago." 

Then Dekanahwideh said, " You will now return, for peace and 
friendship have come to yoii and your settlement and you have novv' 
repented the course of wrong doing which you pursued in times 
past. It shall now also occur that when you return to your settle- 
ment you, yourself, shall promote peace and friendship for it is a 
fact that peace is now ruling in your settlement and I want you to 
arrange and settle all matters." Then Dekanahwideh also said : 
" I shall arrive there early tomorrow morning. I shall visit the 
west first. I shall visit there the house of the woman, Ji-kon- 
sah-seh. The reason why I shall do this (go and visit this woman 
first) is because the path passes there which runs from the east to 
the west." 

Then after saying these words Dekanahwideh went on his way 
and arrived at the house of Ji-kon-sah-seh and said to her that he 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS Jl 

had come on this path which jiassed her home and which led from 
the east to the west, and on which traveled the men of blood-thirsty 
and destructive nature. 

Then he said unto her, " It is your custom to feed these men 
when they are traveling on this path on their war expeditions." 
He then told her that she must desist from practising this custom. 
He then told her that the reason she was to stop this custom was 
that the Karihwiyoh^ or (iood Tidings of Peace and Power had 
come. He then said : " I shall, therefore, now change your dis- 
position and practice." Then also, "I now charge you that you 
shall be the custodian of the Good Tidings of Peace and Power, 
so that the human race may live in peace in the future." Then 
Dekanahwideh also said, " You shall therefore now go east where 
I shall meet you at the place of danger (to Onondaga), where all 
matters shall be finally settled and you must not fail to be there on 
the third day. I shall now pass on in my journey." 

Then he journeyed on a great way and went to another settle- 
ment. Here he inquired who their Royaner was and after he had 
ascertained his abode lie went to his home and found him, and when 
they met, Dekanahwideh said. " Have you heard that the Good Tid- 
ings of Peace and Power are coming?" The lord then said: "I 
truly have heard of it." 

Then Dekanahwideh asked him what he thought about it. 

Then the lord said, " Since I have heard of the good news I 
have been thinking about it and since then I have not slept." Then 
Dekanhwideh said, " It is now at hand — that which has been the 
cause of your sleeplessness." 

Then Dekanahwideh said, " You shall hereafter be called Hay- 
yonh-wa-tha - (Hiawatha)." 

Then the lord said, " To whom am I speaking? " Dekanahwideh 
answered and said : " I am the man who is called on earth by the 
name of Dekanahwideh, and I have just come from the west and 
am now going east for the purpose of propagating peace, so that 
the shedding of human blood might cease among you." 

Then the Lord Hahyonhwatha asked, " Will you wait until I go 
and announce the news to mv colleagues ? " Dekanahwideh then 



'■Diikonsa'se', The zvild cat (fat faced), known as the "mother of na- 
tions." This was the most honored female title among the Huron Iroquois. 
She is sometimes call the Peace Queen. Slie was of tlic Neuter Nation and 
her lodge was on the east side of the Niagara, at Kai-a-nleu-ka. Often she 
was termed Ye-go-wa-neh, the great woman. 

2 Haiyo^hwat'h.n. meaning ffc has )insf>Iaccd sovictliiiig but kiiozvs zvhcre to 
find it. 



72 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

said that he could wait as he was on this good mission. Then the 
Lord Hahyonhwatha announced to his colleagues and people that 
they assemble to hear Dekanahwideh, and when they were assembled 
Hahyonhwatha asked Dekanahwideh what news he had for the 
people. Dekanahwideh answered that the proclamation of the Good 
Tidings of Peace and Power had arrived and that he had come on a 
mission to proclaim the Good News of Peace and Power that blood- 
shed might cease in the land, as the Creator, he had learned, never 
intended that such should ever be practised by human beings. 

Lord Hahyonhwatha answered the people : " We have now heard 
the Good News of Peace and Power from this man Dekanahwideh." 
He then turned and asked his colleagues and all the people what 
answer they should give. Then one of the chief warriors asked : 
" What shall we do with the powerful tribes on the east and on the 
west^ of our villages who are always hostile to us ? " 

Then Dekanahwideh answered and said that the hostile nations 
referred to had already accepted the Good News of Peace and 
Power. 

Then the chief warrior answered and said : " I am still in doubt 
and I would propose (as a test of power) that this man (Dekan- 
ahwideh) climb up a big tree by the edge of a high cliff and that 
we then cut the tree down and let it fall with him over the cliff, - 
and then if he does not die I shall truly believe the message which 
he has brought us." 

Then the deputy chief warrior said : " I also am of the same 
opinion and I approve of the suggestion of the chief warrior." 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " I am ready and most willingly 
accede to your request, because the Good News of Peace and Power 
has come unto us, I now confidently place myself in your hands." 

Then the lord said : " It has now been decided. We will there- 
fore all go to where the tree stands." They then started to go 
there and when they arrived where the tree stood, the .lord said : 
" We have now arrived where the tree that we have decided upon 
stands." 

Then the chief warrior said to Dekanahwideh : " I made this 
proposal and therefore you will now climb this tree so that it will 



1 To the west of the Onondagas were the Seneca and Cayuga nations ; to 
the east the Oneida and Mohawk. It is possible, however, that the New 
England Indians on the east and the Neuters on the west were meant hy this 
paragraph. Consult T. D. Prince, Wampum Records of the Passamaquoddy 
Documents, Annals N. Y. Acad. Sci. No. 15, p. Z^^IT- 1898. 

2 The Newhouse version (q.v.) gives more details of this incident. 



THE COXSTITL'TIO.V UK rill-: FI\-I': NATIONS 73 

be a sign of proof, and the people may see your power. If you 
live to see tomorrow's sunrise then I will accept your message." 

Then Dekanahwideh said, " This shall tru'y be done and carried 
out." He then climbed the tree and when he had reached the 
top of the tree^ he sat down on a branch, after which the tree was 
cut down, and it fell over the cliff with him. 

Then the people kept vigilant watch so that they might see him, 
but they failed to see any signr of him. Then the chief warrior 
said, " Now my proposition has been carried out and Dekenahwideh 
has disappeared and so now we will vigilantly watch at sunrise 
tomorrow morning. Then the Lord Hahyonhwatha said, " We 
shall now return home." 

Now when the new aay dawned one of the warriors arose before 
sunrise and at once went to the place where the tree had been cut 
and w^hen he had arrived there he saw at a short distance a field 
of corn, and near by the smoke from a fire^ toward which the 
warrior went. When he arrived there he saw a man sitting by 
the fire and after seeing the man he at once returned to the Lord 
Hahyonhwatha and when he arrived there he said that he had 
seen the man sitting by the fire, and that it was he who was on the 
tree which was cut the evening before. 

Then Hahyonhwatha charged him to convey these tidings to his 
colleagues and all the people and in a short time all the people had 
assembled. Then the Lord Hahyonhwatha said, "We will now 
call Dekanahwideh," and he then commissioned the chief warrior 
and the deputy chief warrior to go after him and they went to 
where IDekanahwideh had his fire and when they arrived they told 
him that the Lord Hahyonhwatha had sent them to bring him and 
that they would escort him to the home of Hahyonhwatha. 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " It is right. I shall go with you." 

They then returned and when they arrived back at the abode of 
Hahyonhwatha, the chief warrior spoke and said, '' We have re- 
turned with Dekanahwideh, and he is now in your charge." Lord 
Hahyonhwatha then said : " I am now surely ready to fully accept 
the Good News of Peace and Power, and it now rests with you as 
your opinion in this matter." 



1 This event took place on the cliff overlooking the lower falls of the 
Mohawk. The tree was a bitter hickory, (gus'thik), which stood at the door- 
way of a woman named De'siio'. When Dekanawida climbed the tree he 
sang the air of "the six songs of the pacification hymn." 

2 The column of smoke from Dekanawida's fire is said always to have 
" pierced the sky." The term is, Wagaye"gwa'i'de"wagaiyaesta', It forms 
smoke, smoke pierces the sky. 



74 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

The chief warrior then said : " I was in great doubt, but have 
now truly concluded to accept the Good News of Peace and Power." 
Then Royaner (Lord) Hahyonhwatha said: " Now faithfully see 
these matters are settled and finished." 

Then he further said : " Dekanahwideh, you may now listen to 
the answer we have concluded to give you. We have received the 
message which you brought us, and we have jointly concluded to 
accept the message of Good News of Peace and Power and we 
have now concluded all we have to say, and the matter shall now 
rest with you entirely." 

Dekanahwideh then said : " This day is early and yet young, so 
is the new mind also tender and young, so also is the Good Tidings 
of Peace and Power, and as the new sun of Good Tidings of 
Peace and Power arose, so it will proceed on its course and prosper ; 
so also will the young mind, and the Good Tidings of Peace and 
Power shall prevail and prosper. Therefore in the future your 
grandchildren forever shall live in peace." 

Then Dekanahwideh answered again : " You, chief warrior, you 
have had power in warfare, but now this is all changed. I now 
proclaim that since you had doubts, you shall be hereafter known 
in the land by the name of Tha-ha-rih-ho-ken (De-ka-ri-ho-ken),^ 
which means doubting or hesitating over two things as to which 
course to adopt." 

And Dekanahwideh said : " You, the deputy chief warrior, I 
charge you that you shall be called and known hereafter in the 
land by the name of Sa-de-ga-rih-wa-den- (one-who-respects-all- 
matters-as-important-equally) because you truly have concurred 
in and justly confirmed all that you have heard." 

Then Dekanahwideh also said: " I shall now pass on and go 
east, and we shall meet again tomorrow^ to add to what we have 
already accomplished." 

Then Dekanahwideh passed on in his journey. 

Then in Lord Hahyonhwatha's family composed of three * 
daughters, the eldest was taken ill and in a little time she died.^ 



1 In Onondaga, DegaihS'kei'. His name appears first on the roll of 
" Rodiyaner." 

2 Tca'dekaiiwat'de, sometimes translated, Tivo stories diverging in con- 
clusions. 

3 " Tomorrow," -or " on another day " frequently means the next year. 
Dekanawida in going east possibly went to the Abenaki or other New Eng- 
land Indians. See Prince, op. cit. 

4 Newhouse says seven. 

^ A Mohawk account. Cf. Newhouse. who says the daughters all perished 
through the witchcraft of Osi'no'. One account says that he took the form 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 75 

The mind of Hahyonhwatha was troubled. His colleagues and the 
people assembled at his home and condoled with him and admon- 
ished him to forget his sorrow, and he acceded to their desire. 

Shortly afterwards the second daughter took sick and in a short 
time died. Then the sorrow and trouble of the Lord Hahyonhwatha 
was greatly increased, and again his colleagues and people assembled 
at his abode and again they tried to induce him to forget his sorrow 
and trouble, but he could not answer them. So Deharihoken said: 
" I will not tell you my mind (my purpose). I think that we should 
look for something which would console the mind of our lord in 
his trouble and bereavement." Then he also said : " I would lay 
before you warriors, for your consideration, that you cheer him by 
playing a game of lacrosse." ^ 

Then Sadekarihwadeh said : " I will now tell you my mind, first 
let the people all assemble to console him. This shall be done as 
alas our lord has now only one daughter left alive." 

Then Dekarihoken confirmed all that Sadekarihwadeh had said. 

Then the people assembled at the home of the Lord Hahyonh- 
watha and they spoke unto him words of condolence that he might 
forget his grief and bereavement. 

But the lord did not answer them. So then the warriors decided 
that they would play a game of lacrosse in order to cheer him and 
during the time that they were playing, the last daughter of 
Hahyonhwatha came out of the family abode to go after some 
water and when she had gone half way to the spring she saw flying 
high up in the air above a beautiful bird.^ She paused in her 
journey and the bird f^ew downwards toward her. She cried out 
aloud, being frightened, and said. " O, see this bird ! " after which 
she ran away. 

Then the warriors saw it and as it was then flying low, the 
warriors followed it, and as they were looking at the bird they did 
not notice the daughter of Hahyonhwatha before them and in 
their haste they ran over and trampled her to death, and it tran- 
spired that the daughter of Hahyonhwatha was with child. 

Then Sadekarihwadeh went and told Hahyonhwatha that a 
strange bird called Teh-yoh-ronh-yoh-ron (a high flying bird which 



of a screech owl and conjured from a tree overlooking tlie dau£?hters' lodge; 
another that he became a poison shadow at the bottom of a spring. 

1 Each game had a reputed medicinal effect. 

- This was the magic Ha'goks. sometimes calK-d " tlie wampum eagle." .\n- 
other descriptive name is given later in the text. 



yb NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

pierces the skies) had come amongest them and that it was due to 
the visit of the bird that his daughter was killed. 

Then Hahyonhwatha answered sadly and said: "I have now 
lost all my daughters and in the death of this, my last daughter, 
you have accidently and unwittingly killed two beings." ^ 

And Hahyonhwatha further said: " I must now go away to the 
west," and he started immediately on his way. He met Dekanah- 
wideh on the trail and Dekanahwideh warned him of the danger on 
his way, especially with reference to a certain man who was watch- 
ing, saying as follows : 

" There is danger in front of you, there is a man watching your 
way in front of you. It is necessary for you to approach him 
without his becoming aware of your coming until you get to him. 
If you can get up to him while he is unaware of your approach 
then we shall surely prosper in our mission. You will then speak 
to him and ask him what thing he is watching for. He will answer 
you and say that he is watching to protect the fields of corn as the 
people of other nations and also animals destroy the crops and he 
is watching therefore that the crops might be preserved, so that the 
children might live from the harvest." 

Then Hahyonhwatha proceeded on his journey and when he 
arrived where the man was sitting beside a fire near a big tree and 
watching; he quickly spoke, asking, " What are you doing? " And 
the man answered and said : '' I am watching the fields of corn 
to protect them from other nations and also from animals that our 
children might live from the harvest." 

Hahyonhwatha then said to the man : " Return home now and 
tell your lord that the Good News of Peace and Power has come." 
So he returned and told his Lord the message given to him by 
Hahyonhwatha. Then the lord said : " Who is it who told you 
this strange new^s?" Then the man who had been watching said: 
"A man suddenly appeared to me when I was watching the fields 
of corn and he told me the news." 

Hahyonhwatha went to the other end of the corn field and there 
met Dekanahwideh. Dekanahwideh said : " We have now an- 
nounced the (Ka-ya-ne-reh) Good Tidings of Peace and Power, 
therefore you shall abide in this hut near these corn fields, which 
you will only leave when you receive an invitation from the people. 



1 Other versions say that this event took place before Hiawatha met 
Dekanawida. his grief over his losses, driving him into a self-imposed exile, 
during which he lamented all evil conditions. Later he met Dekanawida. A. 
Cusick, and Baptist Thomas, New York Onondagas, both concurred in this. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 7/ 

You must not go unless the invitation is ofificial. A woman shall 
first come to you early tomorrow morning who will be the first to 
see you, then you shall cut and prepare some elderberry twigs. ^ 
You shall cut them into pieces and remove the heart pulp and 
then you shall string them up." " Then the lord (Royaner) shall 
send a messenger to you to invite you, but you must not accept 
the invitation until he shall send to you a string of twigs similar 
to your own." 

Then Hahyonhwatha went on his journey and found the hut 
beside the cornfield and built a fire, and in the morning a woman 
came to the cornfield and saw the smoke from the fire at the end 
of the cornfield and when she arrived there she saw a man sitting 
with his head hanging down. Then the woman hurried home and 
went straightway to where the lord (Royaner) lived and when she 
arrived she told him that she had seen a strange man sitting beside 
a fire in the cornfield. 

Then the lord asked her : " What thing was this man doing 
there ? " And the woman answered and said that the man was 
sitting there quietly looking on the ground.- 

Then the lord said : '" This must be the man who sent the mes- 
sage of the Good Tidings of Peace and Power. I shall therefore 
now send a messenger to bring him hither." 

He then summoned the chief warrior and the deputy chief war- 
rior to come to him and when the two had come, the lord said to 
them: " You shall go after the man who is at the fire in the corn- 
field and bring him to me. The lord then said to the deputy chief 
warrior: "I send you to go after him." and the deputy chief 
warrior went to bring this man, and when he arrived at the place 
where the man had built the fire, he saw a man sitting there and 
he was looking at a string of elderberry twigs which was hanging 
on a pole horizontally placed in front of him. 

Then the deputy chief warrior said: "I am sent after you by 
the lord (Royaner)." 

The man did not answer and so the deputy chief warrior repeated 
the message of the lord three times, but the man did not give any 



1 Wampum at first seems to have l)een any kind of cylindrical bead, large 
or small.. The Mohawk name is o'tgo'rha ; Seneca, o'tko'a'. The quills of 
feathers and porcupines were used as wampum (o'tgo'rha). Indeed Baptist 
Thomas, an Onondaga informant, says porcupine quills were used and not 
elderberry twigs as stated in this version. 

2 Hiawatha kept repeating the phrase, asanatcik, meaning, they should give 
me a wampum token. 



78 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

reply. Then the deputy chief warrior turned and returned to the 
lord, and when he arrived, he said to the lord : " He did not reply." 

The lord then asked: '' What did you see?" Then the deputy 
chief warrior answered and said, " I saw a string of elderberry 
twigs hanging on a pole in front of him and he was looking at it." 
Then the lord answered and said : " I now understand ; I shall 
therefore make a similar string out of quills which will cause him 
to come." The lord then made two strings of quills and put them 
on a thong. 

The lord then said : " I have now completed the strings and you 
shall both go after him and bring him here. You shall therefore 
take these strings of quills with you to him and they shall become 
words and that will induce him to come. They then went on their 
errand and when they had arrived at the fire the chief warrior said: 
" The lord has again sent us after you, and this string of quills are 
his words which are to bring you to him." 

Then Hahyonhwatha answered and said : " This is what should 
have been done." He then took the string of quills and said : 
"After I get through smoking^ I shall go to the lord." 

They then returned to the lord and when they had arrived they 
said that the man had now answered and that when he had finished 
smoking his pipe he would come. 

The lord then told them to tell the people so that they would 
all assemble when the man should arrive. 

The chief warrior and the deputy chief warrior then went to 
tell the people to assemble as soon as possible to the abode of the 
lord. 

The people had therefore all assembled when Hahyonhwatha 
arrived. The lord said to him : " You have come amongst us and 
doubtless you have some important matter to convey to us. The 
people have already assembled and are prepared to listen to the 
matter which you may have to communicate to us." 

Then Hahyonhwatha answered: "I have come here to deliver 
to you the message of Good Tidings of Peace and Power so that 
our children in the future may live in peace." 

Then the lord said : " We shall defer answering you until the 
return of a certain man for whom we are waiting, but in the mean- 
time we desire that you shall remain in our village with us." 

Then Hahyonhwatha answered and said : " This can be safely 



1 To have gone in haste without a semblance of deliberation would have 
been considered insulting. 



Tin-: CONSTITUTION' OI- THE I'lN-K NATIONS 79 

done as I came to you with the message of Good Tidings of Peace 
and Power." 

Then ihe lord said: "1 shall therefore entertain you myself. 
This will be done because the message which you have brought to 
us may be the same as the other man's for which we are waiting, 
and he has sent word that he is coming." Then Hahyonhwatha 
said : " I approve of all this," 

The assembled people then dispersed and when night came the 
lord told Hahyonhwatha that he could sleep in the inner room. 
Then he (Hahyonhwatha) went in and retired. Shortly after he 
heard a voice outside which said: "Are you stopping here?" and 
Hahyonhwatha replied, " Yes." Now the voice from outside said 
that it was very urgent for him to come out. 

So riahyonwatha went out and he saw Dakanahwideh standing 
outside. Dekanahwideh then said: "It is now urgent that we 
proceed directly on our journey.^ You have now accomplished all 
that is necessary to be done here at present ; we can go to another 
settlement now and afterwards return. The man you are now 
waiting for will likely have returned by that time." 

" There is one settlement left to be visited, although I have been 
there before and had conversation with the man. I have promised 
him that I will visit him again and for that reason when you left 
home you heard a loud toned voice in front of you saying, 'A-son- 
kek-ne-eh.' - We will now proceed on our journey." 

They then went and while they were on their way Dekanahwideh 
said, " Let us stop here and wait a while, and you will look toward 
the southeast. So they stood still and Hahyonhwatha looked toward 
the southeast and saw the smoke arising and reaching to the sky. 

Then Dekanahwideh asked: "What do you see?" 

Hahyonhwatha said : " I see smoke piercing the sky." 

Then Dekanahwideh answered : " That smoke which you saw is 
where the abode of Dyon-yon-ko is. The reason you see the smoke 
piercing the sky is because the Good Tidings of Peace and Power 
have come to the people of that settlement but unfortunately, owing 
to the selfishness and lack of energy of these people, the Good 
Tidings of Peace and Power have not prospered and have not 
extended to other settlements.^ It is thus good that these people 



1 Baptist Thomas says Hiawatha left this council because of a dispute on 
the part of the people, who forgot him in their effort to honor another man. 

2 " It has not yet occurred," ason'dc'nei'. 

2 It is said that the New England Indians (Adirhon'daks), the Cherokee 
(Oya'de), the Wyandott (Thastahetci), the Tionante (Tyonontate'ka'), the 



8o NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

have received the Good Tidings of Peace and Power. We shall 
therefore take power from them which will enable us to complete 
the work we have undertaken to accomplish." 

They then heard the loud toned voice saying: "A-soh-kek-ne 

eh " (it is not yet ; which means, impatiently waiting). Then 

Dekanahwideh said : " It is now very urgent for us to proceed on 
our journey to the place from whence this voice proceeds." They 
then went and they had not gone far when they came to a lake. 
Then Dekanahwideh said: "It is now left with you to decide 
what we shall do ; you have seen the lake and it is beside this lake 
that the man lives whose loud voice you have heard saying: 
'Asohkene eh.' " 

Dekanahwideh then also said: " There are two ways which we 
can pursue to get across the lake, and you can have your choice. 
We can take the boat which you see lying flat on the ground and 
paddle over or we can magically pass above the lake, and so get 
over it." Dekanahwideh also said : " That man whom you heard 
calling in a loud voice is able to cause the boat to upset if he sees 
it and the people within it to become drowned ; he has ended the 
lives of many people in this way in the lake." ^ 

Then Hahyonhwatha said : " My choice is that we pass over 
above the lake." Then Dekanahwideh said : " It is best to ap- 
proach this man from behind ; the reason we should do this is that 
he has been so long impatiently waiting that it would not be wise 
to approach him from the front and it might cause trouble." Then 
Dekanahwideh also said : " We shall now therefore proceed on 
our journey." 

Then they went on their journey and arrived at the other side 
of the lake. They had not gone far when Hahyonhwatha saw the 
man sitting on a high knoll where it was his custom to sit. When 
silently they arrived where he was sitting, Dekanahwideh stood on 
the right side and Hahyonhwatha on the left. The man had not yet 
seen them when he called again: "A-soh-kek-ne eh!" 

Then Hahyonhwatha saw what this man was doing and as soon 
as the man called out in the loud voice the lake became very rough 
and troubled and great billows formed on its surface. 

Then Dekanahwideh spoke and said : " I have now returned 



Neuter Nation (Atirhagenrat), the Erie (Djikon'saseoano') and others, 
including the Delaware and some southern tribes, were invited into the 
confederacy. 
1 Onondaga lake at a point near the present village of Liverpool. 



THE CONSTITITIOX OF THE FIVE NATIONS 8l 

and according to my promise. I promised to bring some one with 
me and I have now fulfilled this promise." 

Then the. man who was sitting down turned around and saw 
Dekanahwideh and said : " Who is the man that has come with 
you? " 

Dekanahwideh then said: " Look to your left and you will see." 
Then he looked to his left and saw the man standing there; then 
he said to the man (Hahyonhwatha) : " What are you doing 
here ? " 

Hahyonhwatha answered and said : " I am standing here beside 
you because our minds are with you and are turned toward you, 
for the Good Tidings of Peace and Power have now arrived. You 
will therefore now see as you turn around in every direction the 
columns of smoke arising." ^ 

Then the man raised his head and carefully looked around and 
he asked : " Who will accomplish this, that the Good Tidings of 
Peace and Power be propagated?" 

Dekanahwideh said: "Tomorrow in the day time the delegates 
will come and approach you ; then all things will be completed." 

Then the man said : " I shall wait until all the delegates shall 
have arrived." 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " We must now return but we must 
all meet again tomorrow." 

So Dekanahwideh and Hahyonhwatha went away and returned 
again to the abode of the lord where Hahyonhwatha had been 
lodging when Dekanahwideh called him out and when they had 
arrived there the lord found out that Hahyonhwatha had returned. 
Then the lord called him in and told him that the man for whom 
they had been waiting had returned and said : '' We are now ready 
to answer your message." 

Then Hahyonhwatha said : " I am also now ready and I am 
accompanied by my coworker." 

Then the lord answered and said : " You will now bring him in." 
Then Hahyonhwatha called Dekanahwideh and he came in. 

Then the lord said : " The man for whom we have been waiting 
has now returned and he has delivered his message fully and accord- 
ing to our understanding it is the same as your message. We now 
understand and we therefore have now decided to accept your 
message." 



1 Smoke arises from settlements of people at peace with each other. The 
tall column of smoke symbolized the establishment of the Gayanessha"gowa. 



82 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Then Dekaiiahwideh said: "We shall now conclude the object 
of this message." He then asked the question : " To whom among 
us did the message of the Good Tidings of Peace and Power first 
come ? " 

The lord answered and said: " It is to the man who was guard- 
ing the cornfield." 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " Where is the man ? You shall now 
bring him here." So the lord called him in and when he had come 
the lord said: "This is the man who guarded the fields of corn 
so that our children might live on the harvest." 

Dekanahwideh said : "I now ask you if you are indeed the man 
who guards the cornfields and what your magical power is when 
you are so guarding the cornfields." 

Then the man answered and said : '' I rely entirely on my bow 
and arrows and when I go to the cornfields I take all my arrows 
with me." 

Then Dekanahwideh asked the question : " How or in what 
manner do you carry your power?" (meaning his bows and 
arrows). 

The man then answered and said : " I place them in a quiver 
and place the quiver on my back." 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " You shall now therefore be called 
" Oh-dah-tshe-deh " 1 (meaning, the quiver bearer), as your duty 
as a guardian of the cornfields is now changed because the Good 
News of Peace and Power has now come. Your duty hereafter 
shall now be to see that your children (instead of fields) shall live 
in peace." 

Then Dekanahwideh again asked the lord: " In the past (dur- 
ing the long time he had been guarding the cornfields), what did 
you do with reference to that part of the crops which were 
damaged ? " 

Then the lord answered and said : " I used to send the war- 
riors to gather the damaged crops and they brought them to me 
and I would divide the corn in equal shares among the people." • 

Then Dekanahwideh said: "You shall now therefore hereafter 
be called Ka-non-kwe-yo-da.^ It shall therefore now be your duty 
to propagate the Good Tidings of Peace and Power so that your 
children may live in peace." 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " Where is the man for whom you 
have been waiting?" The lord then called this man and when 



1 Odatce"te', quiver bearer, principal Oneida chief. 

2 Kano°kwe"y6'don', A row of ears of corn standing upright. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 83 

he had arrived, Dekanahwideh said : "Arc you the man for whom 
this peo])lc have been waitin,<i^ so long to return?" Then ilic man 
answered, "1 am that man." 'I'lien Dekanahwidcli said: '"What 
was the eause of your long delay in eoming?" '{"he man answered 
and said, " I was waiting for that other man who passed here, and 
wdio promised to return l)ut who did not return, and while I was 
vigilantly watching and waiting for him I could not see him and 
he failed to return as promised, and when I was on the point of 
returning I tore down my hut which I had built, then I looked 
back to my home for the path by which I had come. It had been 
plainly open before me but now on each side of the path was the 
forest. I then left and came home here and then I found that 
aire ady the people had all heard of the Good News which I wished 
to I dug them, so I simply corroborate what they have already 
hear.' (from Hahyonhwatha)." 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " Everything is now completed, and 
as you have now torn down your hut, your duty is now changed. 
You looked back and saw plainly the path through the forest. You 
shall therefore be known in the land by the name of De-yo-ha"- 
kwe-de.^ Your duty shall therefore be to propagate the Good 
Tidings of Peace and Power so that your children in the future 
may live in peace." Then Dekanahwideh also said : " I will now 
tell you that the people through whose settlements I have passed 
have all accepted the Good Tidings of Peace and Power. Hahyonh- 
watha shall therefore now go after his colleagues and I shall now 
visit the settlement at the big mountain - and see what is happening 
there. I have been there before but I have not yet received an 
answer and what I think now is that we ought to join together in 
this great work for it is now urgent that it would be done for our 
time is getting shortened and we have only until tomorrow ^ to 
complete the whole compact." Then he, Dekanahwideh, also said : 
" It would be best to appoint two delegates to go and find the 
smoke." 

Then Hahyonhwatha said : " Where shall we meet again ? " 

Dekanahwideh answered and said : " We shall meet again by the 
lake shore where my boat lies." * 

Then Ohdahtshedeh spoke and said : " I shall lie across the 
pathway like a log and when you come to me you will come in 



1 Teyoha'gwcnte', Hoilow voice in the throat. 

2 Ganundawao, Bare Hill, the Seneca capitol. 

' The term " tomorrow " means a year hence. 

4 At the mouth of the Oswego river; Oswe'gc"', meaning, the place of the 
outpouring. 



84 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUiNI 

contact with a log and I shall then join with you" (meaning that 
he, Ohdahtshedeh, would be lying in wait for them and when they 
should come to the log, which means his settlement, he could ac- 
company them). Then Ohdahtshedeh further said that he would 
agree to appoint two delegates to go and look for smoke (smoke 
means settlements). 

Then Ohdahtshedeh said : " It is now left with you, the war- 
riors, as to which of you will volunteer to go." 

Then the chief warrior said : " I shall be one of those who 
volunteer to go." Then Ohdahtshedeh also said : " There is one 
more required to go ; who will therefore volunteer ? " 

For a long time no one gave answer. Then Ohdahtshedeh asked 
the question anew and still again no one answered. Then 
Ohdahtshedeh said : " I shall ask the question once again, for the 
last time, and 'if any one desires to volunteer let him speak at 
once ", and from the outside of the gathering a man spoke out and 
said that he would be one of the volunteers. 

Then Dekanahwideh said, " Go and call that man who is speak- 
ing from the outside." The man was called in and he was asked 
to stand by the chief warrior in the meeting. Then Dekanahwideh 
said to the chief warrior : " You are the first to accede to the 
request of the lord to volunteer, therefore, your duty shall be to 
obey orders whenever the (lord) has any duties to give you." Then 
Dekanahwideh said to the warrior who was the second to volunteer : 
"As you came from the outside of the meeting, you shall therefore 
in the future be an assistant to the chief warrior in his duties, and 
whenever the chief warrior assigns his duties to you, you shall 
perform his duties and carry out his instructions." Then Dekanah- 
wideh said : " It is now completed ; you have all been assigned 
your duties. You will now go and search for the smoke and 
wherever you see smoke you shall go there and when you arrive 
there you shall see the lord of the settlement, then you shall tell 
him your message. You will say we were sent here by the lords 
(Ro-de-ya-ners-onh) who take you by the hand and invite you to 
the place of meeting. You will say to the lord you will send dele- 
gates and on their way to the conference to pass where the lord 
lives at the big mountain and you shall invite him to accompany 
you. Then if the lord asks you the place of meeting you shall 
say, ' by the lake where lives the Great Wizard who calls out in 
the loud-toned voice.' " 

They then separated, the chief warrior and his assistant going 
on their mission, and Dekanahwideh and Hahyonhwatha going to 



THE CONSTITUTION Ol- THE FIVE NATIONS 85 

their own home settlements, and when llahyonhwatha had arrived 
home he said, " Everything is now completed and we shall (all 
colleagues) now all go to the conference. You shall therefore all 
make ready." 

The people watched the two volunteer delegates start on their 
mission and saw them become transformed into high-flyers (a 
species of hawk)i and they arose high in the air and soared south- 
ward and when they descended and alighted near the settlement 
they were retransformed and proceeded to the village.^ Here 
they inquired the abode of the lord, and they were conducted to 
him and when they had arrived they saw a man. Then the chief 
warrior asked: "Are you the lord?" 

And he answered and said: " I am. Are you seeking for me? " 

The chief warrior then said : " Yes, truly we are looking for 
you." 

Then the lord said : " I will now ask you upon what mission 
have you come here." 

Then the chief warrior said : " We are sent by the lords 
(Rodeyanersonh) who invite you to go to the meeting place of 
the conference, and you are to take your power with you " (mean- 
ing peaceful intent). "You shall therefore invite the lord who 
lives on the great mountain to accompany you." 

Then the lord spoke and said, " Where shall we meet in confer- 
ence," and the chief warrior answered and said, " By the lake." 

Then the lord said : " I have known about this for a long time. 
I shall therefore now accept your message." Then he took his pipe 
and said : " When I finish smoking I shall attend the conference " 
and the chief warrior and his assistant saw the pipe which was an 
exceedingly large one and larger than any pipe which they had 
ever seen before. They then returned to their own settlement and 
when they had returned Ohdahtshedeh asked, " Did you discover 
the smoke? " Then the chief warrior answered and said : " Every- 
thing is right, all is well, and we have discovered the object which 
you desired ; when we saw the smoke we went there and when we 
arrived we found the lord and we repeated to him fully all our 
message, and when he had heard all, he answered and said, ' I had 
known about this for a long time, and knew that I was required 
to attend the great conference and I now therefore accept and 



1 The two birds into which the messengers were transformed were Ha'goks' 
and Skadjie'na. 

2 To the Cayuga capitol town. The Cayuga have the council name of 
Sononawe"do'na, Great Pipe People. 



86 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

approve the message.' He promised to pass on his way to the 
conference, the settlement at the great mountain/ and the people 
there are to accompany him to the conference." 

Then Ohdahtshedeh said : " It is now time that Hahyonhwatha 
should return, and as soon as he returns we shall at once go to the 
conference." 

Dekanahwideh himself had also gone to the settlement of the 
great mountain and when he had arrived at the abode of the lord 
of the settlement he said : " It is now very urgent that you should 
reply to the message which I have left here before." 

The lord answered and said : " The chief warrior and his 
deputy have failed to unanimously agree with me to accept the 
message of Good Tidings of Peace and Power, and I am now 
bewildered and I am at loss to discover any course which might 
lead me to overcome this difficulty. The reason why we are thus 
placed is that the chief warrior and his deputy, who have the power 
and the control of the people, have disagreed with us to accept the 
message." 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " That which has occurred with you 
will not make a difference. The reason why it will not make any 
difference is that you, being the lord, have accepted the message. 
You are not alone, for they are many who have now accepted the 
message and they will assist you to successfully consider the diffi- 
culty in which you are placed." 

Then moreover Dekanahwideh said: "You will now notify the 
brother lord whose abode is on the other side of the river " that it 
is now urgent for him to come over the river, so that we might 
meet together here." Then the lord sent a messenger to notify the 
lord, whose abode was on the other side of the river, and shortly 
after the lord arrived at the appointed place. 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " We have now all met together. I 
will therefore ask your mind." 

Then the lord who had come from over the river spoke and 
said : " We lords on either side of the river have decided to accept 
your message which you left. The only difficulty which we have 
now to contend with is that our chief warrior and his deputy have 
failed to agree with us to accept the message, and they have the 
power to control the people, and we lords on either side of the 



1 The Seneca capitol. The Senecas were divided into two bands, one of 
which seems to have been allied with the Erie. 

- Probably the Genesee river. " The other lord " means tlie chief of the 
trans-Genesee Seneca. 



THE COXSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 87 

river are totally bewildered and fail to see a way out of the 
difficulty.'' ^ 

Then Dekanahwideh said: " I now fully understand everything 
and I will encourage you with reference to this matter which has 
occurred to you. You are not alone for many have accepted the 
message of Good Tidings of Peace and Power. Therefore, owing 
to that which has occurred to you, you (the lord) whose abode is 
on this east side of the river and to whom the message first came 
shall be known in the land by the name of Ska-nya-dah-ri-yoh,^ and 
you, the lord who came from over the river who has agreed in mind 
with your colleague on this side of the river, shall be called in the 
land by the name of Sa-denka-ronh-yes." '^ 

Then Dekanahwideh also said : " This is now completer' Now 
it is for you to make ready, for in a little while a man will come 
whom you will accompany to the conference." They then in the 

distance heard the man call, "A-soh-kek-ne eh," meaning 

" It is not yet." 

Then Hahyonhwatha distinctly heard where he was. Then 
Hahyonhwatha said to his colleague : " The time is now come 
when we should go to the conference." They then started to go 
to the place appointed for the conference and they arrived at the 
place where the log (the Lord Ohdahtshedeh) was lying across 
the path. 

Ohdahtshedeh said : " We have been impatiently waiting for 
we have heard the man calling with a loud voice now for a long 
time. It is at the place appointed for the meeting of the 
conference." 

Then Hahyonhwatha said : " Let us now proceed to the con- 
ference." They then went to the conference. Then Dekanahwideh 
said, " I shall now return to my abode and we shall all meet at 
the place appointed for the conference." Then the Lords Deh-ka- 
eh-yonh, Ji-non-dah-weh-hon ^ and Dyon-yonh-koh came from their 
settlement and when they arrived at the abode of Skanyadahriyoh, 
they said that the lords had decided and arranged that all should 
call here on their way to the conference and that they were to 
invite all to accompany them. 



1 The difficulties of the Senecas are related in all versions of this tradition. 
Two separate bodies of the Senecas are described in nearly all stories of the 
origin of the league. 

2 Caniodai'io' (Seneca), Handsome Lake. 

3 Sadegai'yes (Onondaga), or Dyadegaihyes. 
* Djinondawe'ho"'. 



88 , NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Then Skanyadariyoh said : " We are ready now and we have 
been waiting for a long time." 

They then journeyed on their way to the conference. Dekanah- 
wideh had arrived at the place of meeting first, and after him 
arrived Hahyonhwatha, Ohdahtshedeh and their colleagues and 
shortly afterwards Skanyadariyoh, Dehkaehyonh and their col- 
leagues arrived. 

After they had all assembled in conference, Dekanahwideh stood 
up and said: 

" This conference met here composed of four nations being now 
assembled, you will therefore now first consider what we shall do 
with reference to a certain woman, our mother, who has not yet 
arrived." They then considered the matter and they decided that 
they would proceed with the business on hand and the matter would 
be in progress when she arrived. 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " The first thing we shall do will be 
to cross over the lake and it shall be Hahyonhwatha and Ohdaht- 
shedeh and Dehkaehyonh and Skanyadariyoh and Sadehkaronhy^s, 
who are the rulers with power who shall cross first. If these lords 
can safely get across the lake and make peace, then you, the whole 
delegation, can cross. Therefore you shall now watch and you 
shall see a display of power when they leave the shore in their boat. 
I shall therefore appoint Hahyonhwatha to guide the boat." 

They then entered the boat and he (Dekanahwideh) stood in 
front of the boat and Hahyonhwatha sat in the stern and the rest 
of the lords then noticed that the boat was made of white marble. 
Then they embarked in this boat from the shore and they had not 
proceeded far on their j.ourney when they heard a voice calling 

out, "A-soh-kek-ne eh," and as soon as this voice had called 

out a strong wind arose and caused the lake to become very rough 
and troubled and great billows^ formed upon its surface and more 
especially around the boat. Then those in the boat became fright- 
ened and said : " We are now going to die," but Dekanahwideh 
spoke and said : " There is no danger because Peace has prevailed." 

Then Dekanahwideh further said to the wind and lake, " Be thou 
quiet, Ga-ha,",^ and rest." Then the wind and the roughness of 
the lake ceased. They had not gone much farther when the man 

across the lake called out "Asohkekne— eh," and then the wind 

and roughness of the lake became still more violent. Then again 



1 The lake was troubled because certain ceremonial words were spoken, 
making it become alive. 

2 The Wind God. 



TIII-: c()XSTiTUTi<:)N OF Tin-: five nations 89 

Dekanahwideh said : " You, the wind and the lake, be still, for 
we have not crossed the w^ater yet." Then again the lake became 
calm. Then Hahyonhwatha began to paddle hard and the boat 
went bO swiftly that when they reached the shore, the boat plowed 
deeply into the dry land on the shore bank. 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " We will now get out of the boat 
for we have now arrived at the place where we desire to go." 
Then he got out and the other lords followed him and they con- 
tinued on their journey and they had only gone a short distance 
when they beheld a man sitting on a high, round knoll and when 
they arrived where he was sitting they stood all around him and 
Dekanahwideh stood directly in front of him, then he spoke and 
said : " We have now arrived, we representing the four nations. 
You will therefore now answer the message which we have left 
here with you. These lords who now stand all around you have 
now accepted the Good Tidings of Peace and Power, which signi- 
fies that hereafter the shedding of human blood shall cease, for 
our Creator the Great Ruler never intended that man should engage 
in any such work as the destruction of human life. There are 
many who have perished in the direction you are now facing, and 
these lords have come to induce you to join them so that the shed- 
ding of human blood might cease and the Good Tidings of Peace 
and Power might prevail." 

Then the man looked around and saw these men (the lords) 
standing all around him, but he did not answer but kept silent. 
Then these lords looked at his head while he was sitting on the 
ground and they saw his hair moving as if it were all alive and 
they saw that the movements of the hair greatly resembled that of 
serpents, and they looked at his hands and saw that his fingers were 
twisting and contorting continually in all directions and in all man- 
ner of shapes, and they became impatient because he would not 
answer the message. 

Then Dekanahwideh said to Hahyonhwatha : " You shall now 
recross the lake and the chief warrior and De-ha-rih-ho-ken and 
Dyon-yonh-koh and our mother Ji-kon-sah-seh, shall accompany 
you back in the boat (when you return here)." 

Then the man who was sitting on the ground smiled a little. 
Then Hahyonhwatha hurriedly went back and reembarked in the 
boat and recrossed the lake and when he had come to shore on the 
other side of the lake, they asked what had occurred. 

Hahyonhwatha answered and said : " It is not yet complete, I 
have therefore come after the chief warrior, De-ha-rih-ho-ken and 



90 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Dyon-yonh-koh and our mother Ji-kon-sah-seh." ^ and they 
answered him and said : " She has now arrived." 

Then all those whom he had named got into the boat. Then 
Hahyonhwatha said : " You will take as a sign that if we can get 
across the lake in safety and the lake remains calm all the way 
across then our message of peace will be accepted." They then 
embarked on the lake - and the boat was rapidly propelled and as 
they looked at the lake they saw that it was calm all the way across 
and they arrived on to the shore in safety, and when they had 
returned to where the man was sitting, Hahyonhwatha said, 
" Everything is completed, we are now all assembled here." 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " We shall now first give thanks to 
the Great Ruler. We will do this because our power is now com- 
pleted." He also said : " It shall be that each nation shall now 
have a voice in the thanksgiving and I shall therefore be the first 
to lead. He then exclaimed " Yo— hen! " 

Then Ohdahtshedeh also repeated " Yo— hen " and after 

him followed Dehkaehyonh who also repeated " Yo hen." 

The next in order was Skanyadahriyoh who also repeated '' Yo 

hen " and after him Hahyonhwatha repeated " Yo hen." 

When Dekanahwideh started to address this man, the man 
became troubled and after all of the lords finished addressing the 
man his sympathy was afit'ected and he shed tears. Then Dekanah- 
wideh said : " We, the delegates of all the nations who have 
accepted the Good Tidings of Peace and Power, are now assembled 
here. 

" The course, therefore, that we shall now pursue is that of the 
representatives of each nation giving utterance to their opinion 
upon this matter." 

Ohdahtshedeh was the first to address the assembly and he said : 
" I shall be the first to give utterance to my opinion upon this 
matter. In my opinion this man may approve of our mission if 
we all lay our heads before him." (This means that the nations 
here represented would be submissive to this man Tha-do-dah-ho). 

Then Dekanahwideh and Skanyadahriyoh spoke and said : " We 
acquiesce to all that Ohdahtshedeh has said." 

Then Dekanahwideh said to Thadodahho : " Now you will 
answer and state if you are satisfied with the submission of these 



1 Djikon'sase is a character who should he better known in Iroifuois mythoj- 
ogy. There are several traditions about her, in the various events of Iroquois 
tradition. The name passed as a title from one generation to another. 

2 Mud Lake, or Diok'to, Otisco Lake. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 9I 

lords who have laid their heads before you," but even then 
Thadodah-ho did not answer. 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " You Dyon-yonh-koh will now give 
utterance and express your o})inion on this matter, as you now 
have the authority." 

Then Dyon-yonh-koh spoke and said to Thadodah-ho : " The 
Creator, the Great Ruler, created this day which is now shedding 
its light upon us : he also created man and he also created the earth 
and all things upon it. Now look up and see the delegates of the 
Four Nations sitting around you, also see the chief warrior and 
this great woman our mother (Jiknosahseh), standing before you, 
all of whom have approved of this message. The lords and all the 
chief warriors and this great woman, our mother, have all agreed 
to submit the Good Tidings of Peace and Power to you, and thus 
if you approve and confirm the message, you will have the power 
and be the Fire-Keeper of our Confederate Council, and the smoke 
from it will arise and pierce the sky, and all the nations shall be 
subject to you." 

Then the twisting movements of the fingers and the snakelike 
movements of the hair of Thadodahho ceased. 

Then he spoke and said : " It is well. I will now answer the 
mission which brought you here. I now truly confirm and accept 
your message, the object of which brought you here." 

THE DEER'S HORNS THE EMBLEM OF POWER 
Then Dakanahwideh said : " We have now accomplished our 
work and completed everything that was required with the excep- 
tion of shaping and transforming him (by rubbing him down), 
removing the snake-like hair from him and circumcising him." 

The lords therefore all took part in doing this and Ohdahtshedeh 
was the first to rub down Thadodahho and the others followed 
his example so that the appearance of Thaddodahho might be like 
that of other men. 

When this had been done then Dekanahwideh again said : " You, 
the chief warrior, and you, our mother, you have the control of the 
power (the authority), and we will now put upon him a sign, by 
placing upon his head the horns of a buck deer. The reason why 
we do this is because all people live upon the flesh of the deer, and 
the reason that we take the emblem of the deer horns is that 
this institution, the Great Peace, shall be the means of protecting 
our children hereafter." 



92 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Then Dekanahwideh also said : " We shall now use these sym- 
bolic deer's horns by placing them upon the heads of each other. 
It shall be thus then that these horns shall be placed upon the head 
of a man who shall be called a lord by his people — he shall have 
the power to rule his people." Then Dekanahwideh further said : 
"And now you, the chief warrior and our mother, shall place these 
horns upon the head of him, Thadodahho." 

Then they looked and saw antlers lying on the ground in the 
midst of them, and Dekanahwideh said : " Pick these horns up and 
put them upon him." Then the mother went forward and picked 
them up. Then the chief warrior and the woman each grasped the 
horns and placed them on his head. 

Then Dekanahwideh said to the man who was still sitting on the 
ground : " Now arise," and the man stood up. 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " You, the nations who are assembled 
here, behold this man who stands up before us. We have now 
placed the deer's horns upon his head as an emblem of authority. 
The people shall now call him Lord Tha-do-dah-ho, in the land." 
Then Dekanahwideh said : " It shall now, in the future among us, 
the United Nations, thus be a custom that whenever a lord is to be 
created we shall all unite in a ceremony (such as this)." 

POSITIONS OF THE CONFEDERATE LORDS 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " Skanyadahriyoh and Sadehkarohyhes 
shall be the uncles of Dehkaehyonh. We have now formed the 
confederacy, and we shall now have two sets of lords, one on each 
side of the council fire. 

" Then also Hahyonhwatha and Ohdahtshedeh, father and son, 
shall sit and face each other, one on each side of the council fire. 

" Then Skanyadahriyoh and Sadehkaronhyes shall sit on one 
side of the council fire and their nephew Dehkaehyonh shall sit on 
the opposite side. 

" On one side of the council fire shall then be seated Hayonh- 
watha, Skanyadahriyoh and Sadehkaronhyes and on the opposite 
side shall sit Ohdahtshedeh and Dehkaehyonh and it shall be that 
we shall place Thadodahho in the center between the two sets of 
lords in the council. 

We shall establish this relationship as follows: You, Thado- 
dahho, shall be the father of Ohdahtshedeh and Dehkaehyonh and 
Hahyonhwatha. Skanyadahriyoh and Sadehkaronhyes shall be your 
brothers and you shall be the principals of the confederation which 
we have just made and completed. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 93 

" The first matter which I shall lay before you for your con- 
sideration is that as clans ^ are already established among the 
people, that the several clans form relations as brothers and 
cousins. 

So the lords answered and said : " We have decided to adopt 
your suggestion." 

Then he, Dekanahwideh said : " You, Hahyonhwatha, shall be 
the first to come and appoint your colleagues ; you are of the Turtle 
Clan and shall therefore appoint your colleagues of the same clan." 

Then when this was done Hahyonhwatha said : " This is now 
all ready, they have accepted and they are as follows : De-ha-rih- 
ho-ken, Sa-de-ka-rih-wa-deh." 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " These shall therefore be your 
brother colleagues, you of the Turtle Clan. The brethern of the 
Wolf Clan shall be Sa-renh-ho-wa-neh,^ De-yon-heh-kon ^ and On- 
renh-reh-ko-wah * and our cousins of the Bear Clan ^ shall be 
De-hen-nah-ke-re-neh,^ Ah-stah-weh-seh-ron-ron-tha " and Soh- 
sko-ha-roh-wa-neh." ^ 

Then Dekanahwideh said: "You, Hahyonhwatha, have now 
completed appointing your colleagues of your nation, as the Good 
Tidings of Peace and Power first originated at Kan-yen-geh, you 
shall be called Ka-nyen-geh-ha-kah ^ (Mohawk)." 

Then Dekanahwideh said to Hahyonhwatha : " Now it shall fall 
upon your son Ohdahtshedeh who sits upon the opposite side of 
the council fire to appoint his brother colleagues." Then Ohdaht- 
shedeh appointed his brother colleagues of the Turtle Clan as 
follows: So-non-sehs ^° (Long House), Tho-nahonh-ken-ah ^^ and 
A-tye-donj-eneh-tha.^^ And then he, Ta-na-o-ge-a, appointed his 
cousins of the Bear Clan as follows: Deh-ha-da-weh-de-yons," Deh- 
ha-nyen-da-sah-deh ^* and Roh-wa-tsha-don-hon.^\ These being the 



1 In some traditions the origin of the clans is stated as coeval with the 
beginning of the Confederacy; the more accurate view is that clans had long 
existed. 

2 Saihowa'ne. 

3 Dionhekwi. 

* Orhehe"gowa. 
5 Hodigwaho". 

•5 Dehenagai'ne', Dragging horns. 
" Hastame'se"ta', Dropped rattle. 
^ Soskohai'ine'. 

^ Kanye"geha'ka. Flint people; cf. kanyenge', flinty place. 
^0 Sono"s'es. 

11 Tonaoge""a. 

12 Hadya'donent'ha. .Swallows his own body. 

13 Dehadaho"de°yonk. 

1* Dehanye'dasayen', Two legs together. 
1^ Howashado"onkho'. 



94 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

second nation who accepted the message of Peace and Power and as 
their settlement (from whence they came) was where the great 
historic stone was situated, O-neh-yont, they were called O-neh-yo- 
deh-ha-ka.^ ( Oneidas ) . 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " It shall now rest with you, the 
uncles, Skanyadahriyoh and Sadehkaronhyes, to appoint your 
colleagues." Then Skanyadahriyoh said: "I (myself) shall ap- 
point two of my brothers and my cousin, Sa-deh-ka-ronh-yes, shall 
appoint two of his brethern." Then Skanyadahriyoh of the Turtle 
Clan also said : " I therefore now appoint Ka-no-kye ^ of the Turtle 
Clan and Sa-tye-na-wat ^ of the Bear Clan as my colleagues." 

Then Sa-deh-ka-ronh-yes of the Snipe clan said : '' I now appoint 
Sa-ken-jo-wah-neh * of the Pigeon Hawk Clan and Nis-ha-yeh- 
nehs ^ of the Snipe Clan as my colleagues." 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " You have all appointed your col- 
leagues and Kanokye "^^ and Sakenhiwahneh ^ shall be cousins, and 
Nishayehnehs and Satyenawat ^ shall be cousins." He then said, 
" You, Skanyadahriyoh and Sadehkaronhyes of the Seneca Nation, 
have now completed appointing your colleagues. Your settlement 
is at the big mountain and you shall therefore be called O-neh-do- 
wah-ka ^ (people of the big mountain) Senecas." 

Then Dekanahwideh also said: "xA.nd now your son Deh-ka-eh- 
yonh,^° who sits on the opposite side of the council fire, shall name 
and appoint his colleagues." 

Then Dehkaehyonh of the Big Bear Clan appointed his colleagues, 
saying as follows : " I shall now appoint my son Ji-non-dah-weh- 
honh ^^ of the Ball Clan and my mother Ka-da-gwa-seh ^^ of the 
Bear Clan and my brother Sho-yonh-wehs ^^ of the Young Bear 
Clan and Hathatrohneh " of the Turtle Clan, Dyon-yonh-koh '^■' of 
the Hand Clan, and Deh-voh-doh-weh-kon ^" of the Wolf Clan, and 



1 Oniiyont, or Hadiniyutga". 

2 Ga'no'^gai'. 

3 Sadye'nawat. 
* Sagendjo'na. 

s Nishayene'^tha'. 

6 Ga'no°ga-i'. 

'■ Gake°iwane'. 

s Sadye'nawat. 

^ Onundavvaga, Nundawa'g'g, The hill people. 

10 De'haga'e°yok. 

11 Djinon'dawe'ho'i. 

12 Kadagwa'dji. 

12 Sho'yonwes, Long wind. 
11 Ha-tha"troh-ne'. 

15 Dion'yonko'. 

16 Diotowe"kon, Two colds. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 95 

Dyon-wch-thoh ^ of the Snipe Clan. These are the brother 
colleagues. 

Then Deh-ka-eh-yonh appointed the cousin of the chief so named 
as follows : Nah-don-dah-heh-ha - of the Plover Clan and Des- 
da-heh^ of the Young Bear Clan. 

Then Dekanahwideh said: " You, Deh-ka-eh-yonh ' of the Cayuga 
Nation, have now finished appointing your colleagues and you 
shall therefore be called Queh-you-gwe-hah-ka '' (Cayuga) from 
your custom of portaging your canoe at a certain point in your 
settlement." 

Then Dekanahwideh also said : " I shall now leave it to you, 
Tha-do-dah-ho, to appoint your colleagues." 

Then Thadodahho of the Bear Clan said : " The first I shall 
appoint will be Onh-neh-sah-heh,*"' my cousin of the Beaver Clan, 
and Ska-nya-da-ge-wak " of the Snipe Clan and Ah-weh-ken-yath ^ 
of the Ball Clan and Deh-ha-yat-kwa-eh ^ of the Turtle Clan, and 
these are all brothers." 

Then Thadodahho appointed their son, Ho-noh-we-yeh-deh ^^ 
of the Wolf Clan, and then Thadodahho appointed his (Ho-noh- 
we-yeh-dehs) uncles as follows: Kon-weh-neh-senh-don of the 
Deer Clan and Ha-he-honk also of the Deer Clan and then their 
brothers as follows: Ho-yonh-nye-neh ^' of the Eel Clan and So- 
deh-kwa-seh ^- also of the Eel Clan and Sa-ko-ken-o-heh ^'^ of the 
Pigeon Hawk Clan, and then he (Thadodahha) appointed the sons 
of the latter as follows: Ho-sah-ha-wa " of the Deer Clan and 
Ska-nah-o-wa-da ^■' of the Small Turtle Clan. 

Then Dekanahwideh spoke and said : " We have now come to 
appointing the lords of the Five Nations hereby represented. These 
lords have now all been crowned with deer's liorns in conformity 
and in a similar manner to Thadodahho who was first crowned. 
Therefore we have now accomplished and completed the work of 
laying the foundation of the confederation." 



1 Dionwatho"". 

- Nadondahe'ha'. 

3 Desga'he'. 

^ De'haga'e"yok. 

■'"' Gw'io"gweha'ka, drawn up from tliC water people. 

^ Oni'saaha'. 

■^ Skanya'dadji'wak, Bitter throat. 

8 Aweken"yat. Near the shore. 

" Dehayatgwa'Te". Red spots on wings. 
'° Honowiye"ghi. 
11 Hoyo"nye""ni'. 
1- Sode'gwase"', Bruised all over. 
1^ Sagoge°"he', I shall sec them again. 
^* Hosahahwi. 

15 Skanawa'di. 



96 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

PACIFICATION OF THE SENECA CHIEFS 

Then Dekanahwideh spoke again and said : " I will now lay 
before your confederate council for your consideration one matter, 
and that is with reference to the conduct of the chief warriors of 
O-non-do-wa-ka (Senecas) who have refused to act in conjunction 
(or accord) with the lords in accepting the message of Good Tid- 
ings of Peace and Power." 

Then the lords sent messengers for these two chief warriors of 
the Onondowaka (Senecas) to appear. And when they had come 
to the council, Lord Hahyonhwatha addressed these two chief 
warriors and said : '' This Confederate Council now in session, to- 
gether with their warriors, have unanimously accepted the message 
of Peace and Power and only you two chief warriors have not yet 
accepted and neither have expressed yourselves on this matter." 
Then Hayonhwatha further said: "This Confederate Council and 
their chief warriors have unanimously decided to leave all the war 
power and military control of the people in your hands providing 
you accept the message so that in case of war with other nations 
you shall be the leaders of the people of the Confederate Nations 
in defense of their confederacy." Then one of these two warriors 
spoke and said : " We are agreed to accept the message." 

Then Dekanahwideh continued his address and said : " Now our 
power is full and complete and the two chief warriors of the 
Onondowaka (Senecas) have agreed to accept the message of Good 
Tidings ; therefore we shall now add to the number of the lords of 
the confederacy (Eh-ji-twa-nah-stah-soh-de-renh),i we shall call it 
Ka-na-stah-ge-ko-wah ^ and these two chief warriors shall repre- 
sent the door of the long house. Ka-noh-hah-ge-ko-wah,-^ meaning 
the great black door through which all good and evil messages must 
come to reach the confederate house of lords or council, shall be 
the name of the door, and if any person or nation has any news, 
message or business matter to lay before the Confederate Council, 
he or they must come through this door." 

Then Dekanahwideh again further said, " We shall now crown 
these two chief warriors with deer's horns'* and make them lords 
also. We shall now first crown with deer's horns Deyohneohkaweh ^ 
of the Wolf Clan and then we shall also crown Kanonkedahwe ® 



1 Nedjitwanastasho'nda'. 

2 Kana'stadjigo'wa," Black timbers. 
2 Kanohwa'gego'na. 

■* Skano"do"ona"ga, Deer horns. 

5 Deyonenhoga"we', Open door. 

6 Kano"'gida'hwi', Hair burned off. 



THE coxsrnrTiox ov the ftve nations 97 

of the Snipe Clan and these two shall be cousins and they shall 
guard the door of the long house. ^ And we shall now floor the 
doorway with slippery elm bark, and it shall be that whenever we 
have visitors from other nations who will have any message or any 
business to lay before the Confederate Council, these two door- 
keepers shall escort and convey them before the council, but when- 
ever the visitor or visitors have come for evil purposes, then 
Kanonkedahwe shall take them l)y the hand and lead them in and 
they shall slip on the slippery elm bark and fall down and they 
shall be reduced to a heap of bones. (He-yoh-so-jo-de-hah - in 
Onondaga language; Ehyohdonyohdaneh in Mohawk), and the 
bones of the enemy shall fall into a heap before the lords of the 
confederacy." (A heap of bones here signifies a conquered nation 
to be dealt with by the lords of the confederacy who shall decide 
as to what manner they will be allowed to exist in the future.) 



LAWS OF THE CONFEDERACY 

Then Dekanahwideh again said : " We have completed the Con- 
federation of the Five Nations, now therefore it shall be that here- 
after the lords who shall be appointed in the future to -fill vacancies 
caused by death or removals shall be appointed from the same 
families and clans from whidh the first lords were created, and 
from which families the hereditary title of lordships shall descend." 

Then Dekanahwideh further said : " I now transfer and set over 
to the women who have the lordships' title vested in them, that they 
shall in tJhe future have the power to appoint the successors from 
time to time to fill vacancies caused by death or removals from 
whatever cause." 

Then Dekanahwideh continued and said : " We shall now build 
a confederate council fire ^ from which the smoke shall arise and 
pierce the skies and all nations and people shall see this smoke. 
And now to you, Thadodahho, your brother and cousin colleagues 
shall be left the care and protection of the confederate council fire, 
bv the Confederate Nations." 



2 The term " long house " as applied to the confederacy is not generally 
used by the Canadian Iroquois in their manuscript copies of the confederate 
laws and legends. A mistaken notion that the long house idea originated with 
Handsome Lake accounts for it. Newhouse used the term " long house " in 
his earlier manuscripts but later erased it supplying the word " confederacy." 
He explained this by saying that he had heard an old man say that long 
house meant Handsome Lake's new religion, the thing that destroyed the 
knowledge of the old ways. Thus the term was tabooed in connection with 
the confederacy. 

2 E"'yosodjoda"ha. 

3 Gadjista'ie'*'. 



98 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Then Dekanahwideh further said : " The lords have unanimously 
decided to spread before you on the ground this great white wam- 
pum belt Ska-no-dah-ken-rah-ko-wah ^ and Ka-yah-ne-renh-ko- 
wah,- which respectfully signify purity and great peace, and the 
lords have also laid before you this great wing, Ska-weh-yeh-seh- 
ko-wah,^ and whenever any dust or stain of any description falls 
upon the great belt of white wampum, then you shall take tihis 
great wing and sweep it clean." (Dust or stain means evil of any 
description which might have a tendency to cause trouble in the 
Confederate Council.) 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " The lords of this confederacy have 
unanimously decided to lay by you this rod (Ska-nah-ka-res)* and 
whenever you see any creeping thing which might have a tendency 
to harm our grandchildren or see a thing creeping toward the great 
white wampum belt (meaning the Great Peace), then you shall 
take this rod and pry it away with it, and if you and your colleagues 
fail to pry the creeping, evil thing out, you shall then call out loudly 
that all the Confederate Nations may hear and they will come 
immediately to your assistance." 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " Now you, the lords of the several 
Confederate Nations, shall divide yourselves and sit on opposite 
sides of the council fire as follows : " You and your brother col- 
leagues shall sit on one side of the council fire (this was said to 
the Mohawks and the Senecas), and your sons, the Oneidas and 
Cayugas, shall sit on the opposite side of the council fire. Thus 
you will begin to work and carry out the principles of the Great 
Peace (Ka-yah-ne-renh-ko-wah) and you will be guided in this by 
the great white wampum belt (Ska-no-dah-ke-rah-ko-wah) which 
signifies Great Peace." 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " You, Thadodahho, shall be the fire 
keeper, and your duty shall be to open the Confederate Council 
with praise and thanksgiving to the Great Ruler and close the 
same." 

Then Dekanahwideh also said : " When the council is opened, 
Hayonhwatha and his colleagues shall be the first to consider and 
give their opinion upon any subject which may come before the 
council for consideration, and when they have arrived at a decision, 
then shall they transfer the matter to their brethren, the Senecas, 
for their consideration, and when they, the Senecas, shall have 



1 Skano"'da'kerhagona. 

2 Gayanasshagona (Onon.). 

3 Another belt known as the great wing, Dega'yadonwa'ne (Onon.). 
* Ganaga'is. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 99 

arrived at a decision on the matter then they shall refer it back to 
Hahyonhwatha and his colleagues. Then Hahyonhwatha will an- 
nounce the decision to the opposite side of the council fire. 

" Then Ohdahtshedeh and his colleagues will consider the matter 
in question and when they have arrived at a decision they will refer 
the matter to their brethren, the Cayugas, for their consideration 
and after they have arrived at a decision, they will refer the matter 
back to Ohdahtshedeh and his colleagues. Then Ohdahtshedeh 
will announce their decision to the opposite side of the council fire. 
Then Hahyonhwatha will refer the matter to Thadodahho and his 
colleagues for their careful consideration and opinion of the matter 
in question and if Thadodahho and his colleagues find that the 
matter has not been well considered or decided, then they shall 
refer the matter back again to the two sides of the council fire, 
and they shall point out where, in their estimation, the decision 
was faulty and the question not fully considered, and then the 
two sides of the council will take up the question again and recon- 
sider the matter, and after the two sides of the council have fully 
reconsidered the question, then Hahyonhwatha will again refer it 
to Thadohahho and his colleagues, then they will again consider 
the matter and if they see that the decision of the two sides of the 
council is correct, then Thadodahho and his colleagues will confirm 
the decision." 

Then Dekanahwideh further said : " If the brethren of the 
Mohawks and the Senecas are divided in their opinion and can not 
agree on any matter which they may have for their consideration, 
then Hahyonhwatha shall announce the two decisions to the oppo- 
site of the council fire. Then Ohdahtshedeh and his brother col- 
leagues, after they have considered the matter, and if they also are 
divided in their decision, shall so report, but if the divided factions 
'each agree with the decision announced from the opposite side of 
the council, then Ohdahtshedeh shall also announce their two de- 
cisions to the other side of the council fire; then Hahyonhwatha 
shall refer the matter to Thadodahho and his colleagues who are 
the fire keepers. They will fully consider the matter and whichever 
decision they consider correct they will confirm." 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " If it should so happen that the lords 
of the Mohawks and the lords of the Senecas disagree on any 
matter and also on the opposite side of the council fire, the lords of 
the Oneidas and the lords of the Cayugas disagree among them- 
selves and do not agree with either of the two decisions of the 
4 



lOO NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

opposite side of the council fire but of themselves give two deci- 
sions which are diverse from each other, then Hahyonhwatha shall 
refer the four decisions to Thadodahho and his colleagues who 
shall consider the matter and give their decision and their decision 
shall be final." 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " We have now completed the system 
for our Confederate Council." 

Then Dekanahwideh further said : " We now, each nation, shall 
adopt all the rules and regulations governing the Confederate 
Council which we have here made and we shall apply them to all 
our respective settlements and thereby we shall carry out the prin- 
ciples set forth in the message of Good Tidings of Peace and 
Power, and in dealing with the affairs of our people of the various 
dominions, thus we shall secure to them contentment and happiness." 

Then he, Dekanahwideh, said: "You, Ka-nyen-ke-ha-ka (Mo- 
hawk), you, Dekarihoken, Hahyonhwatha and Sadekarihwadeh, 
you shall sit in the middle between your brother lords of the Mo- 
hawks, and your cousin lords of the Mohawks, and all matters 
under discussion shall be referred to you by your brother lords and 
your cousin lords for your approval or disapproval. 

"You, O-nen-do-wa-ka (Senecas), you, Skanyhadahriyoh and 
Sadeh-ka-ronh-yes, you shall sit in the middle or between your 
brother lords and your cousin lords of the Senecas and all matters 
under discussion shall be referred to you by them for your approval 
or disapproval. 

"You, Ohnenyohdehaka (Oneidas), you, Ohdahtshedeh, Kanon- 
kweyoudoh and Deyouhahkwedeh, you shall sit in the middle be- 
tween your brother lords and your cousin lords of the Oneidas and 
all matters under discussion shall be referred to you by them for 
your approval or disapproval. 

" You, the Que-yenh-kwe-ha-ka (Cayugas), you, Dekaehyonh 
and Jinondahwehonh, you shall sit in the middle between your 
lords and your cousin lords of the Cayugas and all matters under 
discussion shall be referred to you by them for your approval or 
disapproval." 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " We have now completed arranging 
the system of our local councils and we shall hold our annual Con- 
federate Council at the settlement of Thadodahho, the capitol 
or seat of government of the Five Nations' Confederacy." 

Dekanahwideh said : " Now I and you lords of the Confederate 
Nations shall plant a tree Ska-renj-heh-se-go-wah^ (meaning a tall 



1 Skarhehe"gowa. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS lOI 

and mighty tree) and we shall call it Jo-ne-rak-deh-ke-wah ' (the 
tree of the great long leaves). 

" Now this tree which we have planted shall shoot forth four 
great, long, white roots (Jo-doh-ra-ken-rah-ko-wah).^ These great, 
long, white roots shall shoot forth one to the north and one to the 
south and one to the east and one to the west, and we shall place 
on the top of it Oh-don-yonh ■''' (an eagle) which has great power 
of long vision, and we shall transact all our business beneath the 
shade of this great tree. The meaning of planting this great tree, 
Skarehhehsegowah, is to symbolize Ka-yah-ne-renh-ko-wa, which 
means Great Peace, and Jo-deh-ra-ken-rah-^ke-wah, meaning Good 
Tidings of Peace and Power. The nations of the earth shall see 
it and shall accept and follow the roots and shall follow them to 
the tree and when they arrive here you shall receive them and shall 
seat them in the midst of your confederacy. The object of placing 
an eagle, Skadji'ena', on the top of the great, tall tree is that it may 
watch the roots which extend to the north and to the south and to 
the east and to the west, and whose duty shall be to discover if any 
evil is approaching your confederacy, and he shall scream loudly 
and give the alarm and all the nations of the confederacy at once 
shall heed the alarm ahd come to the rescue." 

Then Dekanahwideh again said : " We shall now combine our 
individual power into one great power wdiich is this confederacy 
and we shall therefore symbolize the union of these powers by each 
nation contributing one arrow, which we shall tie up together in a 
bundle which, when it is made and completely tied together, no one 
can bend or break." 

Then Dekanahwideh further said : " We have now completed 
this union by securing one arrow from each nation. It is not good 
that one should be lacking or taken from the bundle, for it would 
weaken our power and it would be still worse if two arrows were 
taken from the bundle. And if three arrows were taken any one 
could break the remaining arrows in the bundle." 

Then Dekanahwideh continued his address and said : " We shall 
tie this bundle of arrows together with deer sinew which is strong, 
durable and lasting and then also this institution shall be strong 
and unchangeable. This bundle of arrows signifies that all the lords 
and all the warriors and all the women of the Confederacy have 
become united as one person." 



1 Ona"dedjisko'na skaskoliai'na', Big long leaves, big limber tree. 

2 Djok'dehesgo'na. 

3 The "upper world eagle" is called skadji'ena'. 



I02 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Then Dekanahwideh again said : " We have now completed 
binding this bundle of arrows and we shall leave it beside the great 
tree (Skarehhehsegowah) and beside the Confederate Council fire 
of Thadodahho." 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " We have now completed our power 
so that we the Five Nations' Confederacy shall in the future have 
one body, one head and one heart." 

Then he (Dekanahwideh) further said: "If any evil should 
befall us in the future, we shall stand or fall united as one man." 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " You lords shall be symbolized as 
trees of the Five Confederate Nations. We therefore bind our- 
selves together by taking hold of each other's hands firmly and 
forming a circle so strong that if a tree shall fall prostrate upon it, 
it could neither shake nor break it, and thus our people and our 
grandchildren shall remain in the circle in security, peace and happi- 
ness. And if any lord who is crowned with the emblem of deer's 
horns shall break through this circle of unity, his horns shall become 
fastened in the circle, and if he persists after warning from the 
chief matron, he shall go through it without his horns and the horns 
shall remain in the circle, and when he has passed through the 
circle, he shall no longer be lord, but shall be as an ordinary war- 
rior and shall not be further qualified to fill any office." 

Then Dekanahwideh further said : " We have now completed 
everything in connection with the matter of Peace and Power, and 
it remains only for us to consider and adopt some measure as to 
what we shall do with reference to the disposal of the weapons 
of war which we have taken from our people." 

Then the lords considered the latter and decided that the best 
way which they could adopt with reference to the disposal of the 
weapons would be to uproot the great tall tree which they had 
planted and in uprooting the tree a chasm would form so deep that 
it would come or reach the swift current of the waters under it, 
into which the weapons of war would be thrown, and they would 
be borne and swept away forever by the current so that their grand- 
children would never see them again. . And they then uprooted the 
great tree and they cast into the chasm all manner of weapons of 
war which their people had been in the custom of using, and thC"^ 
then replaced the tree in its original position. 

Then Dekanahwideh further continued and said : " We have 
completed clearing away all manner of weapons from the paths of 
our people," 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS IO3 

Then Dekanahwideh continued and said : " We have still one 
matter left to be considered and that is with reference to the hunt- 
ing grounds of our people from which they derive their living." 

They, the lords, said with reference to this matter: "We shall 
now do this: We shall only have one dish (or bowl) in which 
will be placed one beaver's tail and we shall all have coequal right 
to it, and there shall be no knife in it, for if there be a knife in it, 
there would be danger that it might cut some one and blood would 
thereby be shed." (This one dish or bowl signifies that they will 
make their hunting grounds one common tract and all have a co- 
equal right to hunt within it.^ The knife being prohibited from 
being placed into the dish or bowl signifies that all danger would 
be removed from shedding blood by the people of these different 
nations of the confederacy caused by differences of the right of 
the hunting grounds.) 

Then Dekanahwideh continued and said : " We have now accom- 
plished and completed forming the great Confederacy of the Five 
Nations together with adopting rules and regulations in connection 
therewith." 

Then he, Dekanahwideh, continued and said : " I will now leave 
all matters in the hands of your lords and you are to work and 
carry out the principles of all that I have just laid before you for 
the welfare of your people and others, and I now place the power 
in your hands and to add to the rules and regulations whenever 
necessary and I now charge each of you lords that you must never 
seriously disagree among yourselves. You are all of equal standing 
and of equal power, and if you seriously disagree the consequences 
will be most serious and this disagreement will cause you to disre- 
gard each other, and while you are quarreling with each other, the 
white panther 2 (the fire dragon of discord) ^ will come and take 
your rights and privileges away. Then your grandchildren will 
suffer and be reduced to poverty and disgrace." 

Then he, Dekanahwideh, continued and said : " If this should 
ever occur, whoever can climb a great tree (Skarehhehsegowah) 
and ascend to the top, may look around over the landscape and will 
see if there is any way or place to escape to from the calamity of 
the threatening poverty and disgrace, so that our children may have 
a home where they may have peace and happiness in their day. 



1 Diondowes'ta', hunting ground. 

2 Usually translated -/lOH. 

3 Oshondowek'gona. 



104 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

And if it so occurs that he can not see any way or place to escape 
the calamity, he will then descend the tree. You will then look 
for a great swamp elm tree (Aka-rah-ji-ko-wah) ^ and when you 
have found one with great large roots extending outwards and 
bracing outwards from the trunk, there you will gather your heads 
together." 

Then Dekanahwideh continued and said : " It will be hard and 
your grandchildren will suffer hardship. And if it may so occur 
that the heads of the people of the confederacy shall roll and 
wander away westward, if such thing should come to pass, other 
nations shall see your heads rolling and wandering away and 
they shall say to you, ' You belong to the confederacy, you were a 
proud and haughty people once,' and they shall kick the heads with 
scorn, and they shall go on their way, but before they shall have 
gone far they shall vomit up blood." (Meaning that the confed- 
eracy shall still have power enough to avenge their people.) 

Then Dekanahwideh further said : " There may be another seri- 
ous trouble. Other nations may cut or hack these four great roots 
which grow from the great tree which we have planted and one of 
the roots shoots to the north and one to the south and one to the 
east and one to the west. Whenever such thing happens, then 
shall great trouble come into the seat of your lords of the con- 
federacy." 

Then Dekanahwideh said : " I shall now therefore charge each 
of your lords, that your skin be of the thickness of seven spreads 
of the hands ^ (from end of thumb to the end of the great finger) 
so that no matter how sharp a cutting instrument may be used it 
will not penetrate the thickness of your skin. (The meaning of the 
great thickness of your skins is patience and forbearance, so that 
no matter what nature of question or business may come before 
you, no matter how sharp or aggravating it may be, it will not 
penetrate to your skins, but you will forbear with great patience 
and good will in all your deliberations and never disgrace your- 
selves by becoming angry.) You lords shall always be guided in 
all your councils and deliberations by the Good Tidings of Peace 
and Power." 

Then Dekanahwideh said : '' Now, you lords of the different 
nations of the confederacy, I charge you to cultivate the good feel- 
ing of friendship, love and honor amongst yourselves. I have now 



1 Gain'dadjikgo'na. 

2 Djadiik'nioyionk'gage', seven fingers. 



Plate 6 




Council ])i 
was 



of 



ing a civil chief. Tliis pipe- 
last owned by Albert Cusick, who presented it to the State 
in 1911. 



Museum 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS I05 

fulfilled my duty in assisting you in the establishment and organi- 
zation of this great confederacy, and if this confederation is care- 
fully guarded it shall continue and endure from generation to gen- 
eration and as long as the sun shines. I shall now, therefore, go 
home, conceal and cover myself with bark and there shall none 
other be called by my name." 

Then Dekanahwideh further continued and said: "If at any 
time through the negligence and carelessness of the lords, they fail 
to carry out the principles of the Good Tidings of Peace and Power 
and the rules and regulations of the confederacy and the people are 
reduced to poverty and great sufifering, I will return." 

Then Dekanahwideh said: "And it shall so happen that when 
you hear my name mentioned disrespectfully without reason or 
just cause, but spoken in levity, you shall then know that you are 
on the verge of trouble and sorrow. And it shall be that the only 
time when it shall be proper for my name to be mentioned is when 
the condolence ceremonies are being performed or when the Good 
Tidings of Peace and Power which I have established and organized 
are being discussed or rehearsed." 

Then the lords (Ro-de-ya-ner-shoh) said: "We shall begin to 
work and carry out the instructions which you, Dekanahwideh, 
have laid before us." 

Then they said : " We shall therefore begin first with the Con- 
federate Council of the Five Nations and other nations who shall 
accept and come under the Great Law of the confederacy will 
become as props, supports of the long house. 

" The pure white wampum strings shall be the token or emblem 
of the council fire, and it shall be that when the fire keepers shall 
open the council, he shall pick up this string of wampum and hold 
it on his hand while he is offering thanksgiving to the Great Ruler 
and opening the council." And then they also said: "That while 
the council is in session the strings of the white wampum should 
be placed conspicuously in their midst and when they should 
adjourn then, the fire keepers should pick up these strings of wam- 
pum again, offer thanksgiving, close the council and all business 
in connection with the council should then be adjourned." 

Then they said : " We shall now establish as a custom that when 
our annual Confederate Council shall meet we shall smoke the pipe 
of peace." ^ 



1 Swe°no"andwahe'°' 



I06 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

And they, the lords, then said : " We shall now proceed to de- 
fine the obligations and position of the lords of the Confederacy 
as follows : 

" If a lord is found guilty of wilful murder, he shall be deposed 
without the warning (as shall be provided for later on) by the lords 
of the confederacy, and his horns (emblem of power) shall be 
handed back to the chief matron of his family and clan. 

" If a lord is guilty of rape he shall be deposed without the usual 
warning by the lords of the confederacy, and his horns (the em- 
blem of power) shall be handed back to the chief matron of his 
family and clan. 

" If a lord is found guilty of theft, he shall be deposed without 
the usual warning by the lords of the confederacy and his horns 
(the emblem of power) shall be handed back to the chief matron 
of his family and clan. 

" If a lord is guilty of unwarrantably opposing the object of 
decisions of the council and in that his own erroneous will in 
these matters be carried out, he shall be approached and admonished 
by the chief matron of his family and clan to desist from such evil 
practices and she shall urge him to come back and act in harmony 
with his brother lords. 

" If the lord refuses to comply with the request of the chief 

, matron of his family and clan and still persists in his evil prac- 

/' tices of unwarrantably opposing his brother lords, then a warrior 

of his family and clan will also approach him and admonish him 

to desist from pursuing his evil course. 

" If the lord still refuses to listen and obey, then the chief matron 
and warrior shall go together to the warrior and they shall inform 
him that they have admonished their lord and he refused to obey. 
Then the chief warrior will arise and go there to the lord and will 
say to him : ' Your nephew and niece have admonished you to desist 
from your evil course, and you have refused to obey.' Then the 
chief warrior will say : ' I will now admonish you for the last time 
and if you continue to resist, refuse to accede and disobey this 
request, then your duties as lord of our family and clan will cease, 
and I shall take the deer's horns from off your head, and with a 
broad edged stone axe I shall cut down the tree ' (meaning that 
he shall be deposed from his position as lord or chief of the con- 
federacy). Then, if the lord merits dismissal, the chief warrior 
shall hand back the deer's horns (the emblem of power) of the 
deposed lord to the chief matron of the family or clan." 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS I07 

Whenever it occurs that a lord is thus deposed, then the chief 
matron shall select and appoint another warrior of her family or 
clan and crown him with the deer's horns and thus a new lord 
shall be created in the place of the one deposed. 

The lords of each of the confederate nations shall have one 
assistant and their duty, each of them, shall be to carry messages 
through the forests between our settlements and also in the absence 
of the lord through illness or any other impediment he shall be 
deputed by him (his lord) to act in his place in council. 

The lords then said : " We have now completed defining the 
obligations and positions of a lord (Royaner) and therefore in 
accordance with the custom which we now have established, it 
shall be that when a lord is deposed and the deer's horns (emblem 
of power) are taken from him, he shall no longer be allowed 
to sit in council or even hold an office again." 

Then the lords continued and said : " What shall we do in case 
some of us lords are removed by sudden death and in whom so 
much dependence is placed?" 

"In such case (this shall be done), the chief matron and the 
warriors of the family and clan of the deceased lord, shall nominate 
another lord from the warriors of the family and clan of the dead 
lord to succeed him, then the matter will be submitted to the brother 
lords and if they (the brother lords) confirm the nomination, then 
the matter will be further submitted to their cousin lords and if 
they also confirm the nomination, then the candidate shall be quali- 
fied to be raised by the condolence ceremony (Honda nas)." 

Then the lords continued and said : " In case the family and 
clan in which a lordship title^ is vested shall become extinct, this 
shall be done : It shall then be transferred and vested in the hands 
of the confederate lords and they will consider the matter and nomi- 
nate and appoint^ a successor from any family of the brother lords 
of the deceased lord, and the lords may in their discretion vest the 
said lordship title in some family, and such title will remain in 
that family so long as the lords are satisfied. 

" If ever it should occur that the chief matron in a family or 
clan in which a lordship title is vested should be removed by death 
and leave female infants who, owing to their infancy can not 
nominate a candidate to bear their lordship title, then the lords 
(of the same nation) at their pleasure may appoint an adult female 
of a sister family who shall make a temporary appointment, shall 

1 Nihosennode', the title. 

2 The term is Naho°ya\vadaga ya'de". 



I08 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

come before the lords and request that the lordship title be restored 
to them, then the lords must obtain the title and restore it 
accordingly." 

Then the lords continued and said : '* We now have completed 
laying the foundation of our rules and methods (Kayanehrenokowa) 
and we will now proceed to follow and carry out the working of 
these rules and methods of the confederacy, and the local affairs 
of our respective settlements, and whenever we discover a warrior 
who is wise and trustworthy and who will render his services for 
the benefit of the people and thus aid the lords of the confederacy, 
we will claim him into our midst and confer upon him the title of 
' He has sprung up as a Pine Tree ^ ' (Eh-ka-neh-do-deh) and his 
title shall only last during his lifetime^ and shall not be hereditary 
and at his death it shall die with him." 

Then the lords (Rodiyaner) again considered and said: "We 
have now completed the appointment of our lords. It may so occur 
that before we may be quietly reseated in our respective places, 
we may sustain another loss by death (of a lord) and in that case 
we shall do this: While yet the dying lord is suffering in the 
agonies of death, his brother lords will come and remove his deer's 
horns from his head and place them beside the wall and if by the 
will of the Great Ruler he recovers from his illness, he shall then 
reclaim his crown of deer's horns and resume the duties of a lord. 
They further considered this matter and said : " While the lord 
is ill we will place a string of black wampum at the head of his 
bed and if he dies anyone belonging to his clan may take this string 
of black wampum and announce his death to the whole circle of 
the confederacy as follows : 

" If a Lord among the three brothers,^ Mohawk, Seneca and 
Onondaga, dies, the chief warrior or a warrior will convey the 
string of black wampum to their son, Ohdahtshedeh or Dehkaeh- 
yonh, or their colleagues, and he will leave it there, and while on 
his way from the home of the dead lord he will repeat at regular 

intervals the mourning cry, three times thus — ' Kwa ah; 

Kwa ah ; Kwa ah.' 

" Then Ohdahtshedeh or Dehkaehyonh or their colleagues will 
convey the string of black wampum to their four brothers, and so 



1 Waganeda'nyuk. 

2 Enkanedode", the pine tree shall grow. 

3 A'se'nihondade""ge", three brothers. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS I09 

on until the whole circle of the confederacy shall become aware of 
the death of the lord. And if a lord among the two (now four) 
brothers (the Oneida and Cayuga) dies, then the chief warrior or 
any warrior deputed will carry and convey the string of black 
wampum to Dekarihoken or Skanyadahriyoh or Thadodahho, or 
their brother colleagues, and the chief warrior or any warrior so 
deputed will, while on his way, repeat the mourning cry three times 

at regular intervals as follows: ' Kwa ah; Kwa ah; 

Kwa ah; '^ and if a chief warrior on either side of the council 

dies (or now if a chief of Tuscarora, Delaware, Nanticoke or 
Tuteli member- of the council dies), then the mourning messenger 
will, while on his way to announce the death of either of these, 

repeat the mourning cry twice only as follows : ' Kwa ah ; 

Kwa ah.' In case of the sudden death of a lord, then his 

colleagues will remove his crown of deer's horns and will put it to 
one side where the chief matron of the family or clan to which he 
belonged will find and take it up again. 

" If from whatever cause the crown of deer's horns are not 
removed from the head of the lord at the time of his death, then 
his colleagues will remove the same at the time of his burial and 
will place it beside the grave where the chief matron will find and 
pick it up again." 

Then the lords said: "If a lord dies we will do this: we will 
put up a pole horizontally, and we will hang a pouch upon it, 
and we will put into the pouch a short string of wampum, and the 
side of the council fire which has sustained the loss by death shall 
do it and the side which has not sustained the loss will depute one 
of their lords to take the pouch off the pole, then he shall follow 
the path and go to the opposite side of the council fire where the 
loss has been sustained, and when he arrives at the house where 
the lord died he will stand at one end of the hearth and he will 
speak consoling words to the bereaved, and he will cheer them up, 
and this will be our mode of condolence, and these shall consist of 
eleven passages to be expressed in this condolence (Ka-ne-kon- 
kets-kwa-se-rah)^ and eleven wampum strings shall be used in 
this ceremony. 



1 Kwa a". 

2 Captive or adopted tribes having a seat and a voice in their own national 
affairs but no voice in the con federate council. 

3 Ganigohagetc'gwe"', Their spirits are hftcd up. 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



THE CONDOLENCE CEREMONY 

The beginning of the condolence ceremony used immediately 
after the death of a chief (or lord) and which is subsequently fol- 
lowed by the preliminary ceremony called, "At the wood's edge." 

1 Now hear us our uncles, we have come to condole with you 
in your great bereavement. 

We have now met in dark sorrow to lament together over the 
death of our brother lord. For such has been your loss. We will 
sit together in our grief and mingle our tears together, and we four 
brothers will wipe off the tear from your eyes, so that for a day 
period you might have peace of mind. This we say and do, we 
four brothers. 

2 Now hear us again, for when a person is in great grief 
caused by death, his ears are closed up and he can not hear and 
such is your condition now. 

We will therefore remove the obstruction (grief) from your 
ears, so that for a day period you may have perfect hearing again. 
This we say and do, we four brothers. 

3 Continue to hear the expression of us four brothers, for 
when a person is in great sorrow his throat is stopped with grief 
and such is your case; now, we will therefore remove the obstruc- 
tion (grief) so that for a day period you may enjoy perfect breath- 
ing and speech; this we say and do, we four brothers. 

The foregoing part of the condolence ceremony is to be per- 
formed outside of the place of meeting. 

Then the bereaved will appoint two of their chief warriors to 
conduct the four brothers into the place of meeting. 

4 Continue to hear the expression of us four brothers, for when 
a person is in great grief caused by death, he appears to be de- 
formed, so that our forefathers have made a form which their 
children may use in condoling with each other (Ja-wek-ka-ho-denh) 
which is that they will treat him a dose of soft drink (medicine) 
and which when it is taken and settled down in the stomach it 
will pervade the whole body and strengthen him and restore him 
to a perfect form of man. This we say and do, we four brothers. 

5 Continue to hear the expression of us four brothers. Now 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 



III 



""l,l^ f ^f I 




PiCTOGRAPHS ON ReCORD StAFF 

(i) The seven parallel lines represent the four elder brothers and the 
three younger brothers of the eight clans who are mourning. (2) The 
prostrate figure is that of the dead chief of the eighth clan. (3) A chanter 
of condolence appears to comfort the sorrowing friends and relatives, 
(4) he lifts one hand to say, "we are mourning," (5) then both arms are 
raised to the heavens and he asks the people to look to the sun and be 
gladdened, and (6) then he points to the earth where sorrow shall be buried. 
(7) " Behold the sun in its brightness shining (8) for there sits the new 
chief (royaneh) on a bench with four legs, like the roots of the great tree." 
(9) Now the chief is in a bower of pine boughs where his enemies cannot 
discover him, there he sits and thinks of his duties. (10) Night covers him 
and he still meditates, (11) but the morning sun comes again like a circle 
of horns over his head and he approaches like the new sun. It shines over 
the new chief and (12) it shines over the grave of the chief who died. 

(13) Then shall the clans come in council and the new chief appears before 
them on a new mat, but the path is not yet clear or straight, until the 

(14) mourning clans arise and take their minds from (15) the dead chief 
whose spirit has gone after ten days from his body. Then (16) the new 
chief takes his staff and (17) goes forward with his sun before him, as a light 
to his mind and that people may see he is royaneh. Then (18) is his 
*ioor open and his path made clear. 



t- 



4 
li 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

when a person is brought to grief by death, such person's seat or 
bed seems stained with human blood ; such is now your case. 

We therefore wipe ofif those stains with soft hnen so that your 
seat and bed may be clean and so that you may enjoy peace for a 
day, for we may scarcely have taken our seats before we shall be 
surprised to hear of another death. This we say and do, we four 
brothers. 

6 Continue to hear the expression of us four brothers. When 
a person is brought to grief through death, he is confined in the 
darkness of deep sorrow, and such is now the case of your three 
brothers. This we say, we four brothers. 

7 When a person is brought to grief by death, he seems to lose 
sight of the sky (blinded with grief) and he is crushed with sorrow. 
We therefore remove the mist from your eyes, so that the sky may 
be clear to you. This we say and do, we four brothers. 

8 When a person is brought to grief by death he seems to lose 
the sight of the sun ; this is now your case. We therefore remove 
the mist so that you may see the sun rising over the trees or forest 
in the east, and watch its course and when it arrives in midsky, it 
will shed forth its rays around you, and you shall begin to see 
your duties and perform the same as usual. This we say and do, 
we four brothers. 

9 Now when the remains are laid and cause the mound of clay 
(grave), we till the ground and place some nice grass over it 
and place a nice slab over it, so that his body (that of the dead 
lord) may quietly lay in his resting place, and be protected from 
the heavy wind and great rain storms. This we say and do, we 
four brothers. 

10 Now continue to listen, for when a person is brought to 
grief, and such is your condition, the sticks of wood from your 
fire are s:attered caused by death, so we the four brothers, will 
gather up the sticks of wood and rekindle the fire, and the smoke 
shall rise and pierce the sky, so that all the nations of the con- 
federacy may see the smoke, and when a person is in great grief 
caused by the death of some of our rulers, the head is bowed down 
in deep sorrow. We therefore cause you to stand up again, our 
uncles and surround the council fire again and resume your duties. 
This we say and do, we four brothers. 

11 Continue to listen for when the Great Spirit created us, he 
created a woman as the helpmate of man, and when she is called 

Record staff containing the liistory of a condolence and raising ceremony 
of a royaneh or councellor. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS II3 

away by death, it is grievously hard for had she been allowed to 
live she may have raised a family to inhabit the earth, and so we 
four brothers raise the woman again (to encourage and cheer up 
their downcast spirits) so that you may cheerfully enjoy peace 
and happiness for a day. This we say and do, we four brothers. 

12 Now my uncle lords, you have two relations, a nephew and 
a niece. They are watching your course. Your niece may see 
that you are making a misstep and taking a course whereby your 
children may suffer ruin or a calamity, or it may be your nephew 
who will see your evil course and never bear to listen when the 
woman or warrior approach you and remind you of your duties, 
and ask you to come back and carry out your obligations as a 
Royaner or lord of the bard. This we say and do, we four 
brothers. 

13 They say it is hard for any one tc allow his mind to be 
troubled too greatly with sorrow. Never allow yourself to be led 
to think of destroying yourself by committing suicide for all things 
in this world is only vanity. Now we pla^e in your midst a torch. 
We all have an equal share in the said light, and would now call 
all the Rodhanersonh (lords) to their places and each perform the 
duties conferred upon each of them. This we say and do, we four 
brothers. 

Now we return to you the wampum which we received from you 
when you suffered the loss by death. We will therefore now con- 
clude our discourse. Now point out to me the man whom I am to 
proclaim as chief in place of the deceased. 



THE HIAWATHA TRADITION 

Related by Baptist Thomas (Sa ha whi) an Onondaga (Turtle Clan) as 
he had it from Thomas Commissary (Ostowago'na* Big Feather). 

When a man's heart is heavy with sorrow because of death he 
wanders aimlessly (wa-he-des-yas-sha-da''-na').^ That is why 
Ha-yent-watha went away from the Mohawks. His only sister — he 
had only one sister — died. She was Da-si-yu' and she died. She 
was not a comely woman but her brother loved her and so Ha-yent- 
watha mourned and no one came to comfort him. Not one person 
came to him in his grief to comfort him, therefore his mind was 
clouded in darkness. His throat was dry and heavy and bitter. 
So he went away for he did not wish to stay among a people who 
had no hearts of sympathy for sorrow. The Mohawks had grown 
callous and so accustomed to troubled times that they did not 
care for the sorrows of others and even despised the tears of 
mourners. They were always fighting. Even they sent out war 
parties among their own relatives in other towns. Hayentwatha 
often said this was wrong but no one listened to him. So when 
his great sorrow came he went away. He took a canoe and went 
upstream. He paddled up the Mohawk river and when he landed 
to camp he talked to himself about his sorrow. " I would com- 
fort others in sorrow," he said, " but no one comforts me." 

After a long time he reached the portage and carried his canoe 
to Wood creek.- Here he camped three days. He took up his 
journey again and camped at one of two islands and went through 
Oneida lake. Then he went up the river and came to Three River 
point. Here he heard a broken branch creaking against a tree. It 
cried giis, giis, giis, so he named this spot Dyo-neda-tonk. So then 
he went up the river into Onondaga lake. He landed on the north 
side, (near the present site of Liverpool),* and built a hut. Here 
he made a camp fire and stayed for three days. Then he saw the 
monster. He was a long way off and he was looking at Hayent- 
watha. So Hayentwatha moved his camp but the next morning 
the monster came nearer. This being was Tha-do-da'-ho'. So 
the next evening Hayentwatha moved his camp again and in the 



1 Onondaga vocabulary. 

2 This portage is called De-hon-yugvvha-tha. 

3 Odi-nes'-shi-yu, People of the sand and they shall be of the Snipe Clan. 
* This spot he named Ga'skwasoetge'. 



Plate 




Commemoration belts of the Five Nat 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS II5 

morning again he saw the monster before his camp fire. It seems 
that he had snakes in his hair and covering his shoulders and one 
great one came up from his thighs and went over his shoulders. 
Hayentwatha looked at Thadodaho and said " Shon-nis'?" (who are 
you ?) The monstrous being did not reply but his face looked 
very angry. 

Again Hayentwatha changed his camp and built a shelter on 
one of the two islands in the lake. This spot he named Si-ye-ge. As 
before, the monster camped silently near him. He was nearer 
than ever before and seemed watching him from the corner of his 
eyes. 

So then again Hayentwatha moved his camping place. He 
crossed the lake and camped at the point on the south shore. As 
he built his lodge he looked inland and saw seated on a knoll, the 
monster ThadodcVho'. He then observed that what ever m'ove he 
made the snake-bearing monster was ever before him. He seemed 
to anticipate his movements. This fact frightened Hayentwatha 
and he prepared to take up his journey again. 

His sorrow was not diminished but hung like a black cloud over 
him. His heart was very heavy and there was no clear sky for 
him. He carried no war weapons and the monster frightened him. 
So Hayentwatha journeyed in his canoe up Onondaga creek. So 
in this manner he came to the Onondaga village. How long he 
stayed at the Onondaga town, my grandfather, Tom Commissary, 
did not say. Some say he stayed there and married. Some say 
he enjoined the Onondaga towns to be at peace and stop their 
quarreling. After a time when another great sorrow came, some 
say it was because his daughters died, he again continued his 
journey but Thadoda^ho' went before him and Hayentwatha saw 
him. 

So Hayentwatha went south up Onondaga creek and he came to 
a certain spot where a brook enters the creek^ and he saw there a 
pond and a grassy place. There it is said he saw a very large 
turtle and some women playing ball. Some say boys were playing 
ball but I say that women were playing ball because my grand- 
father said so. So Hayentwatha called this place Dwe"-the'-ga^, and 
said from this spot comes the Ball Clan (Dwe"-the-gas Hadi- 
nya'-te"') of the Great Turtle. 

Hayentwatha continued his journey and went over Bear moun- 
tain.2 First he camped at night at the foot of the high hill. Here 



1 A brook running through Cardiff, N. Y. 

2 Southwest of Cardiff, Lafayette township, Onondaga county. 



Il6 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

he built a shelter. That night he heard a song and its words were 
what he believed and had spoken many times to the Onondaga 
chiefs and to the Mohawks. 

In the morning he ascended the mountain and there he found 
five stalks of corn springing from four roots and there was only- 
one large stalk at the root from which the five stalks grew. On 
each stalk were three large ears of ripe corn. Near the corn he 
saw a large turtle with a red and yellow belly and it was the turtle 
that danced. He danced the Ostowago'na, the great feather dance. 
So then Hayentwatha said " Did you sing last night ? I heard 
singing." Then the turtle replied, " I sang. Now this is the great 
corn and you will make the nations like it. Three ears represent 
the three nations^ and the five stalks from a single stalk represent 
the five nations and the four roots go to the north and west the 
south and the east." 

Hayentwatha proceeded on his journey and after a time he came 
to a group of lakes. He called it Tga-ni-ya-da-ha-nion (the lake 
group on hill) (the present Tully group of lakes). On one of 
these lakes were many ducks swimming very closely together. The 
ducks covered the lake. So Hayentwatha stopped to look at so 
strange a sight. "What are you doing there, so many of you?" 
he said all to himself. The ducks heard him and at the same 
moment, whoo ! every one of them flew into the air and lifted up 
the water, so quickly did they fly up. The bottom of the lake was 
left dry and Hayentwatha walked across it. As he walked he saw 
many small shells and he gathered a deer skin full of shells so 
many were there. When he reached the opposite shore he saw a 
man limping toward him. He was dragging a large snapping 
turtle. "What troubles your walk?" asked Hayentwatha. "I 
have a blister on my crotch " answered the man. 

Then said Hayentwatha to himself, " In the future this man and 
his brothers with all his female relations shall be known as Hodi- 
ho'o'en'h. They have blisters on their crotches and they shall be of 
the Small Turtle Clan." 

Then again he proceeded on' his journey and after a time he 
saw an old corn field and a field shelter house with a roof of 
stalks. So he went there for a camp. 

The great sorrow had not left him so he sat by his campfire and 
talked to himself. Then he strung up the shells and placed three 
strings on a pole laid across two upright poles. He continued to 
talk. 



1 The original confederates were the Mohawk, Oneida and Onondaga. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS llj 

A little girl saw the smoke of the campfire and went out into 
the field. She went close to the shelter house and listened to what 
Hayentwatha said. Then she returned and told her father what 
she had seen. He then sent two men to invite Hayentwatha to the 
village. 

Hayentwatha did not reply to them but with his head bowed 
before his fire he said aloud to himself, *' These people should know 
that every invitation should be confirmed by a string of shells such 
as hang before me; they should give me a strand (a-sa-na-tcik')." 

The men returned to their chief and told what they had heard. 
Then he ordered them to string up some beads of large porcupine 
quills and carry them to the stranger to become words of invitation. 
This they did and Hayentwatha said, " It is now right." 

The warriors who came with the two messengers returned to 
the village and after smoking his pipe Hayentwatha went to the 
village with the two guides. At the settlement the council was in 
session and Hayentwatha was invited to sit on one side of the 
fire. The discussion was a spirited one and none of the head men 
could agree on any question. During the debate a great man came 
in. The room was crowded and the head man who had invited 
Hayentwatha arose and gave his place to the great man. The de- 
bate continued and Hayentwatha silently departed, angry at the 
slight he had received. In the council room the debate was as de- 
void of result as before when the head man arose and said, " I have 
staying with me a friend. He is a stranger and I do not know from 
whence he came. Perhaps he can settle our dispute." 

Then everyone looked for the stranger but Hayentwatha was not 
there. The head man could not find him. So then the head man 
said, " I think I have made a great mistake. He must have been a 
great man and I have offended him. He has magically disap- 
peared." 

So the man who was able to settle the quarrel of the people was 
not there. 

When Hayentwatha left the council he journeyed on to the out- 
skirts of another settlement and made a camp. Here he com- 
manded his two guardian birds to come to him. Their names were 
Ha'-goks' and Skadjie'na.^ He said, " Go and see if smoke arises 
from any settlement." 

Then the birds arose and when they returned they said, " Smoke 
arises from the Oneida villages." 



1 Said by some informants to have been two Imman messengers bearing 
these names and not actually birds. 



Il8 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

So then Hayentwatha went eastward and in all the Oneida towns 
he heard the people talking about the Great Law and about the 
Great Peace. Dekanawida had told of it but the people failed to 
understand it. So then Hayentwatha said, " I must meet that man 
for my mind is not yet unburdened." So he continued on his jour- 
ney down the river, toward the Mohawk country, for he greatly 
wished to see Dekanawida. 



APPENDIX A 



THE PASSAMAQUODDY WAMPUM RECORDS 

RECORDED BY J. D. PRINCE ^ 

Many bloody fights had been fought, many men, women and 
children had been tortured by constant and cruel wars until some 
of the wise men among the Indians began to think that something 
must be done, and that whatever was to be done should be done 
quickly. They accordingly sent messengers to all parts of the 
country, some going to the south, others to the east, and others to 
the west and northwest. Some even went as far as the Wabanaki.^ 
It was many months before the messengers reached the farthest 
tribes. When they arrived at each nation, they notified the people 
that the great Indian nations of the Iroquois, Mohawks and others 
had sent them to announce the tidings of a great Lagootwagon or 
general counil for a treaty of peace. Every Indian who heard 
the news rejoiced, because they were all tired of the never-ending 
wars. Every tribe, therefore, sent two or more of their cleverest 
men as representatives to the great council. 

When all the delegates were assembled they began to deliberate 
concerning what was best to do, as they all seemed tired of their 
evil lives. The leading chief then spoke as follows : "As we look 
back upon our blood-stained trail we see that many wrongs have 
been done by all of our people. Our gory tomahawks, clubs, bows 
and arrows must undoubtedly be buried for ever." It was de- 
cided, therefore, by all concerned to make a general Lagootwagon 
or treaty of peace, and a day was appointed when they should 
begin the rites. 

For seven days, from morning till night, a strict silence was ob- 
served, during which each representative deliberated on the speech 



1 See " Klooskape, The Master." Funk & Wagnalls Co., 1899. 

- According to Indian tradition, six Iroquoian tribes united in confedera- 
tion in tlie interests of peace. This was the famous League of the Six 
Nations : Onondagas, Mohawks, Oneidas, Senecas, Cayugas and Tuscaroras. 
The first five of these completed their league as earl}' as the middle of the 
fifteenth century under the Onondaga chief Hiawatha. The object of the 
federation was to abolish war altogether (see Brinton, The American Race, 
p.82,83). It is evident that the Passamaquoddy tradition embodied in this 
part of the Wampum Records refers to these proposals made by their 
Iroquois neighbors. 



I20 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

he should make and tried to discover the best means for checking 
the war. This was called the " Wigwam of silence." 

After this, they held another wigwam called m'sittakw-wen tle- 
westoo, or " Wigwam of oratory." The ceremonies then began. 
Each representative recited the history of his nation, telling all the 
cruelties, tortures and hardships they had suffered during their 
wars and stating that the time had now come to think of and take 
pity on their women and children, their lame and old, all of whom 
had suffered equally with the strongest and bravest warriors. 
When all the speeches had been delivered, it was decided to erect 
an extensive fence and within it to build a large wigwam. In this 
wigwam they were to make a big fire and, having made a switch or 
whip, to place " their father " as a guard over the wigwam with 
the whip in his hand. If any of his children did wrong he was to 
punish them with the whip. Every child of his within the in- 
closure must therefore obey his orders implicitly. His duty also 
was to keep replenishing the fire in the wigwam so that it should 
not go out. This is the origin of the Wampum laws. 

The fence typified a treaty of peace for all the Indian nations 
who took part in the council, fourteen in number, of which there 
are many tribes. All these were to go within the fence and dwell 
there, and if any should do wrong they would be liable to punish- 
ment with the whip at the hands of " their father." The wigwam 
within the fence represented a universal house for all the tribes, in 
which they might live in peace, without disputes and quarrels, like 
members of one family. The big fire (ktchi squt) in the wigwam 
denoted the warmth of the brotherly love engendered in the 
Indians by their treaty. The father ruling the wigwam was the 
great chief who lived at Caughnawaga. The whip in his hand was 
the type of the Wampum laws, disobedience to which was punish- 
able by consent of all the tribes mentioned in the treaty. 

After this, they proceeded to make lesser laws, all of which were 
to be recorded by means of wampum, in order that they could be 
read to the Indians from time to time. Every feast, every cere- 
mony, therefore, has its own ritual in the wampum ; such as the 
burial and mourning rites after the death of a chief, the installa- 
tion of a chief, marriage etc. There were also salutation and 
visiting wampum. 

CEREMONIES CUSTOMARY AT THE DEATH OF A CHIEF 
When the chief of the tribe died, his flag pole was cut down 
and burnt, and his warlike appurtenances, bows and arrows, 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 121 

tomahawk and flag were buried with him. The Indians mourned 
for him one year, after which the Pwutwusimwuk or leading men 
were summoned by the tribe to elect a new chief. The member? 
of one tribe alone could not elect their own chief ; according- to 
the common laws of the allied nations, he had to be chosen by a 
general wigwam. Accordingly, after the council of the leading 
men had assembled, four or six canoes were dispatched to the 
Micmac, Penobscot and Maliseet tribes if a Passamaquoddy chief 
had died.^ These canoes bore each a little flag in the bow as a 
sign that the mission on which the messengers came was important. 
On the arrival of the messengers at their destination, the chief of 
the tribe to which they came called all his people, children, women 
and men, to meet the approaching boats. The herald springing to 
land first sang his salutation song (n'skawewintuagunul), walking 
back and forth before the ranks of the other tribe. When he had 
finished his chant the other Indians sang their w^elcoming song in 
reply. 

As soon as the singing was over they marched to some imwewig- 
wam or meeting house to pray together. The visiting Indians were 
then taken to a special wigwam allotted to their use over which a 
flag was set. Here they were greeted informally by the members 
of the tribe with hand-shaking etc. The evening of the first day 
was spent in entertaining the visitors. 

On the next day the messengers sent to the chief desiring to see 
all the tribe assembled in a gwandowanek or dance hall. When 
the tribe had congregated there, the strangers were sent for, who, 
producing their strings of wampum to be read according to the 
law of the big wampum, announced the death of the chief of their 
tribe, "their eldest boy" (ktchi w'skinosismowal), and asked that 
the tribe should aid them to elect a new chief. The chief of the 
stranger tribe then arose and formally announced to his people 
the desire of the envoys, stating his willingness to go to aid them, 
his fatherless brothers, in choosing a new father. The messengers, 
arising once more, thanked the chief for his kindness and appointed 
a day to return to their own people. 

The ceremony known as kelhoochun then took place. The chief 
notified his men that his brothers were ready to go, but that they 



1 From here on the recorder mentions only the neighhoring Algonkin tribes 
as belonging to the federation which he has in mind. The northern Algonkin 
tribes were very probably in a loose federation with the Iroquois merely for 
purposes of intertribal arbitration. These Algonkin clans themselves, Iiowever, 
seem to have been politically interdependent, as one clan could not elect 
a chief without the consent of all the others. 



122 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

should not be allowed to go so soon. The small wampum string 
called kellhoweyi or prolongation of the stay was produced at this 
point, which read that the whole tribe, men, women and children, 
were glad to see their brothers with them and begged them to re- 
main a day or two longer; that " our mothers " (kigwusin), that is, 
all the tribal women, would keep their paddles yet a little while. 
This meant that the messengers were not to be allowed to depart 
so soon. 
• Here followed the ceremony called N'skahudin. A great hunt 
was ordered by the chief and the game brought to the meeting hall 
and cooked there. The noochila-kalwet or herald went about the 
village crying wikw-poosaltin, which was intelligible to all. Men, 
women and children immediately came to the hall with their birch- 
bark dishes and sat about the game in a circle, while four or five 
men with long-handled dishes distributed the food, of which every 
person had a share. The feast was called kelhootwi-wikw- 
poosaltiu. When it was all over the Indians dispersed, but re- 
turned later to the hall when the messengers sang again their 
salutation songs in honor of their forefathers, in reply to which 
the chief of the tribe sang his song of greeting. 

When the singing was over the chief seated himself in the midst 
of the hall with a small drum in one hand and a stick in the other. 
To the accompaniment of his drum he sang his k'tumasooi- 
n'tawagunul or dance songs, which was the signal for a general 
dance, followed by another feast. 

The envoys again appointed a day to return, but were deterred 
in the same manner. As these feasts often lasted three weeks or a 
month, a dance being held every night, it was frequently a long 
time before they could go back to their own tribe, because the chief 
would detain them whenever they wished to return. Such was the 
custom. 

THE CEREMONY OF INSTALLATION 
When they reached home, however, and the embassies from the 
other Wabanaki tribes had also returned, the people of the be- 
reaved tribe were summoned to assemble before the messengers, who 
informed them of the success of their mission. When the delegates 
from the other tribes, who had been appointed to elect the chief, had 
arrived and the salutation and welcome ceremonies had been per- 
formed, an assembly was called to elect the chief. 

This took place about the second day after the arrival of the 
other Wabanaki representatives. A suitable person, a member of 
the bereaved tribe, was chosen by acclamation for the office of chief. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS I23 

If there was no objection to him a new flag pole was made and 
prepared for raising, and a chief from one of the kindred tribes 
put a medal of wampum on the chief-elect who was always clothed 
in new garments. The installing chief then addressed the people, 
telling them that another " eldest boy " had been chosen, to whom 
they owed implicit obedience. Turning to the new chief, he in- 
formed him that he must act in accordance with the wishes of his 
people. The main duties of a chief were to act as arbiter in all 
matters of dispute, and to act as commander in chief in case of 
war, being ready to sacrifice himself for the people's good if 
necessary. 

After this ceremony they marched to the hall, where another 
dance took place, the new chief singing and beating the drum. A 
wife of one of the other chiefs then placed a new deer skin or 
bear skin on the shoulders of the new chief as a symbol of his 
authority, after which the dance continued the whole night. 

The officers of the new chief (geptins) were still to be chosen. 
These were seven in number and were appointed in the same man- 
ner and with the same ceremonies as the chief. Their duties, which 
were much more severe, were told them by the installing chief. The 
flag pole, which was the symbol of the chief, was first raised. The 
geptins stood around it, each with a brush in his hand, with which 
they were instructed to brush off any particle of dust that might 
come upon it. This signified that it was their duty to defend and 
guard their chief and that they should be obliged to spill their blood 
for him, in case of need and in defense of the tribe. All the women 
and children and disabled persons in the tribe were under the care 
of the geptins. The chief himself was not allowed to go into battle, 
but was expected to stay with his people and to give orders in time 
of danger. 

After the tribal officers had been appointed, the greatest festivi- 
ties were carried on; during the day they had canoe races, foot 
races and ball playing, and during the night, feasting and dancing. 
The Indians would bet on the various sports, hanging the prizes 
for each game on a pole. It was understood that the winner of 
the game was entitled to all the valuables hung on this pole. The 
festivities often lasted an entire month. 

THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY: THE ANCIENT RITE 
It was the duty of the young Indian man who wished to marry 
to inform his parents of his desire, stating the name of the maiden. 
The young man's father then notified all the relatives and friends 



124 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

of the family that his son wished to marry such and such a girl. 
If the friends and relations were willing, the son was permitted 
to offer his suit. The father of the youth prepared a clean skin 
of the bear, beaver or deer, which he presented to his son. Pro- 
vided with this, the suitor went to the wigwam of his prospective 
bride's father and placed the hide at the back of the wigwam or 
nowteh. The girl's father then notified his relations and friends, 
and if there was no objection, he ordered his daughter to seat her- 
self on the skin, as a sign that the young man's suit was acceptable. 
The usual wedding ceremonies were then held, namely, a public 
feast, followed by dancing and singing, which always lasted at least 
a week. 

THE MARRIAGE CEREMONY IN LATER DAYS 
After the adoption of the Wampum laws the marriage ceremony 
was much more complicated.^ 

When the young man had informed his parents of his desire to 
marry and the father had secured the consent of the relations and 
friends, an Indian was appointed to be the Keloolwett or marriage 
herald, who, taking the string of wampum called the Kelolwawei, 
went to the wigwam of the girl's father, generally accompanied 
by as many witnesses as cared to attend. The herald read the 
marriage wampum in the presence of the girl and her father, 
formally stating that such and such a suitor sought his daughter's 
hand in marriage. The herald, accompanied by his party, then 
returned to the young man's wigwam to await the reply. After the 
girl's father had notified his relatives and friends and they had 
given their consent, the wedding was permitted to go on. 

The usual ceremonies then followed. The young man first pre- 
sented the bride-elect with a new dress. She, after putting it on, 
went to her suitor's wigwam with her female friends, where she 
and her company formally saluted him by shaking hands. This was 
called wulisakowdowagon or salutation. She then returned to her 
father's house, where she seated herself with her following of old 
women and girls. The groom then assembled a company of his 
friends, old and young men, and went with them to the bride's wig- 
wam to salute her in the same manner. When these salutations 
were over a great feast was prepared by the bride, enough for all 
the people, men, women and children. The bridegroom also pre- 
pared a similar feast. Both of these dinners were cooked in the 



1 Mitchell interpolated this remark. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS I25 

open air and when the food was ready they cried out k'waltewall 
" your dishes." Every one understood this, which was the signal 
for the merry-makers to approach and fall to. 

The marriage ceremonies, however, were not over yet. The 
wedding party arrayed themselves in their best attire and formed 
two processions, that of the bride entering the assembly wigwam 
first. In later times it was customary to fire a gun at this point 
as a signal that the bride was in the hall, whereupon the groom's 
procession entered the hall in the same manner, when a second 
gun was fired. The geptins of the tribe and one of the friends of 
the bride then conducted the girl to the bridegroom to dance with 
him. At midnight after the dancing a supper was served, to which 
the bride and groom went together and where she ate with him 
for the first time. The couple were then addressed by an aged 
man (noiimikokemit) on the duties of marriage. 

Finally, a number of old women accompanied the newly made 
wife to her husband's wigwam, carrying with them her bed clothes. 
This final ceremony was called natboonan, taking or carrying 
the bed. 



APPENDIX B 



SKETCHES OF AN INDIAN COUNCIL, 1846 
(From Schoolcraft's Census of 1845) 

A grand council of the confederate Iroquois was held last week, 
at the Indian council house on the Tonawanda Reservation, in the 
county of Genesee. Its proceedings occupied three days, closing 
on the third instant. It embraced representatives from all the Six 
Nations — the Mohawk, the Onondaga, the Seneca ; and the Oneida, 
the Cayuga and the Tuscarora. It is the only one of the kind which 
has been held for a number of years, and is the last which will ever 
be assembled with a full representation of all the confederate 
nations. 

With the expectation that the council would commence on Tues- 
day, two or three of us had left Rochester so as to arrive at the 
council house Monday evening; but owing to some unsettled pre- 
liminaries, it had been postponed till Wednesday. The Indians from 
abroad, however, arrived at the council grounds, or in their immedi- 
ate vicinity, on Monday ; and one of the most interesting spectacles 
of the occasion, was the entry of the different nations upon the 
domain and hospitality of the Senecas, on whose ground the coun- 
cil was to be held. The representation of Mohawks, coming as they 
did from Canada, was necessarily small. The Onondagas, with the 
acting Tod-o-dah-hoh of the confederacy, and his two coimsellors, 
made an exceedingly creditable appearance. Nor was the array of 
Tuscaroras, in point of numbers at least, deficient in attractive and 
imposing features. 

Monday evening we called upon, and were presented to, Black- 
smith, the most influential and authoritative of the Seneca sachems. 
He is about 60 years old, is somewhat portly, is easy enough in his 
manners, and is well disposed and even kindly towards all who 
convince him that they have no sinister designs in coming among 
his people. 

Jemmy Johnson is the great high priest of the confederacy. 
Though now 69 years old, he is yet an erect, fine looking, and ener- 
getic Indian, and is both hospitable and intelligent. He is in pos- 
session of the medal presented by Washington to Red Jacket in 
1792 which among other things of interest, he showed us. 



Plate 8 



1 Wolf clan belt said to represent a pact of the Mohawk with the French 

2 Tuscarora entrance belt 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 12/ 

It would be incompatible with the present purpose to describe all 
the interesting men who there assembled, among whom were Cap- 
tain Frost, Messrs Le Fort, Hill, John Jacket, Doctor Wilson and 
others. We spent most of Tuesday, and indeed much of the time 
during the other days of the week in conversation with the chiefs 
and most intelligent Indians of the different nations, and gleaned 
from them much information of the highest interest in relation to 
the organization, government and laws, religion, customs of the 
people, and characteristics of the great men, of the old and once 
powerful confederacy. It is a singular fact, that the peculiar gov- 
ernment and national characteristics of the Iroquois is a most inter- 
esting field for research and inquiry, which has never been very 
thoroughly, if at all, investigated, although the historic events which 
marked the proud career of the confederacy, have been persever- 
ingly sought and treasured up in the writings of Stone, Schoolcraft, 
Hosmer, Yates and others. 

Many of the Indians speak English readily; but with the aid 
and interpretations of Mr Ely S. Parker, a young Seneca of no 
ordinary degree of attainment, in both scholarship and general in- 
telligence, and who with Le Fort, the Onondaga, is well versed in 
old Iroquois matters, we had no difificulty in conversing with any 
and all we chose to. 

About midday on Wednesday, the council commenced. The 
ceremonies with which it was opened and conducted were certainly 
unique, almost indescribable; and as its proceedings were in the 
Seneca tongue, they were in a great measure unintelligible, and in 
fact profoundly mysterious to the pale faces. One of the chief 
objects for which the council had been convoked, as has been 
heretofore editorially stated in the American, was to fill two vacant 
sachemships of the Senecas, which had been made by the death of 
the former incumbents; and preceding the installation of the can- 
didates for the succession, there was a general and dolorous lament 
for the deceased sachems, the utterance of which, together with 
the repetition of the laws of the confederacy — the installation of 
the new sachems — the impeachment and deposition of three un- 
faithful sachems — the elevation of others in their stead, and the 
performance of the various ceremonies attended upon these pro- 
ceedings, consumed the principal part of the afternoon. 

At the setting of the sun, a beautiful repast, consisting of an 
innumerable number of rather formidable looking chunks of boiled 
fresh beef, and an abundance of bread and succotash, was brought 
into the council house. The manner of saying grace on this 



128 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

occasion was indeed peculiar. A kettle being brought, hot and 
smoking from the fire, and placed in the center of the council 
house, there proceeded from a single person, in a high shrill key, 
a prolonged and monotonous sound, resembling that of the syllable 
zvah or yah. This was immediately followed by a response from 
the whole multitude, uttering in a low and profoundly guttural but 
protracted tone, the syllable zuhe or swe, and this concluded grace. 
It was impossible not to be somewhat mirthfully effected at the 
first hearing of grace said in this novel manner. It is, however, 
pleasurable to reflect that the Indians recognize the duty of ren- 
dering thanks to the Divine Being in some formal way, for the 
bounties and enjoyments which he bestows; and were an Indian to 
attend a public feast among his pale faced brethern he would be 
effected, perhaps to a greater degree of marvel, at witnessing a 
total neglect of this ceremony, than we were at his singular way 
of performing it. 

After supper commenced the dances. All day Tuesday, and on 
Wednesday, up to the time that the places of the deceased sachems 
had been filled, everything like undue joy fulness had been restrained. 
This was required by the respect customarily due to the distin- 
guished dead. But now, the bereaved sachemships being again filled, 
all were to give utterance to gladness and joy. A short speech 
from Captain Frost, introductory to the employments of the evening, 
was received with acclamatory approbation ; and soon eighty or 
ninety of these sons and daughters of the forest — the old men 
and the young, the maidens and matrons — were engaged in the 
dance. It was indeed a rare sight. 

Only two varieties of dancing were introduced the first evening — 
the trotting dance and the fish dance. The figures of either are 
exceedingly simple, and but sHghtly dift'erent from each other. In 
the first named, the dancers all move round a circle, in a single 
file, and keeping time in a sort of trotting step to an Indian song 
of Yo-ho-ha, or yo-ho-ha-ha-ho, as sung by the leaders, or occa- 
sionally by all conjoined. In the other, there is the same movement 
file round a circle, but every two persons, a man and a woman, or 
two men, face each other, the one moving forward and the other 
backward, and all keeping step to the music of the singers, who 
are now, however, aided by a couple of tortoise or turtle shell 
rattles or an aboriginal drum. At regular intervals there is a sort 
of cadence in the music, during which a change of position by all 
the couples take place, the one who had been moving backward 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 1 29 

taking the place of the one moving forward, when all again move 
onward, one-half of the whole, of course, being obliged to follow 
on by advancing backward. 

One peculiarity in Indian dancing would probably strongly com- 
mend itself to that class among pale-faced beaux and belles de- 
nominated the bashful ; though perhaps it would not suit others as 
well. The men, or a number of them, usually begin the dance and 
the women, or each of them, selecting the one with whom she 
would like to dance, presents herself at his side as he approaches, 
and is immediately received into the circle. Consequently, the 
young Indian beau knows nothing of the tact required to hand- 
somely invite and gallantly lead a lady to the dance ; and the young 
Indian maiden presents her personage to the one she designs to 
favor, and thus quietly engage herself in the dance. And, more- 
over, while an Indian beau is not necessarily obliged to exhibit any 
gallantry as toward a belle, till she has herself manifested her own 
pleasure in the matter, so therefore the belle can not indulge her- 
self in vacillant flirtations with any considerable number of beaux, 
without being at once detected. 

On Tuesday the religious ceremonies commenced, and the council 
from the time it assembled, which was about ii o'clock a. m., till 
3 or 4 o'clock p. m., gave the most serious attention to the preach- 
ing of Jemmy Johnson, the great high priest, and the second in 
the succession under the new revelation. Though there are some 
evangelical believers among the Indians, the greater portion of them 
cherish the religion of their fathers. This, as they say, has been 
somewhat changed by the new revelation, which the Great Spirit 
made to one of their prophets about 47 years ago, and which, as 
they also believe, was approved by Washington. The profound 
regard and veneration which the Indian has ever retained toward 
the name and memory of Washington is most interesting evidence 
of his universally appreciated worth ; and the fact that the red 
men regard him not merely as one of the best, but as the very best 
man that ever has existed, or that will ever exist, is beautifully 
illustrated in a single credence which they maintain even to this 
day, namely, that Washington is the only white man that has ever 
entered heaven, and is the only one who will enter there, till the 
end of the world. 

Among the Senecas, public religious exercises take place but once 
a year. At these times Jemmy Johnson preaches hour after hour, 
for three days ; and then rests from any public discharge of ecclesi- 
astical offices the remaining 362 days of the year. On this, an 



130 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

unusual occasion, he restricted himself to a few hours in each of 
the last two days of the council. We were told by young Parker, 
who took notes of his preaching, that his subject matter on Tuesday 
abounded with good teachings, enforced by appropriate and happy 
illustrations and striking imagery. After he had finished, the coun- 
cil took a short respite. Soon, however, a company of warriors 
ready and eager to engage in the celebrated " corn dance," made 
their appearance. They were differently attired ; while some were 
completely enveloped in a closely fitting and gaudy colored garb, 
others, though perhaps without intending it, had made wonderfully 
close approaches to an imitation of the costume said to have been 
so fashionable in many parts of the state of Georgia during the last 
hot summer, and which is also said to have consisted simply of a 
shirt collar and a pair of spurs. But in truth, these warriors, with 
shoulders and limbs in a state of fiudity, with faces bestreaked with 
paints, with jingling trinkets dangling at their knees, and with 
feather war-caps waving above them, presented a truly picturesque 
and romantic appearance. When the center of the council house 
had been cleared, and the musicians with the shell rattles had taken 
their places, the dance commenced; and for an hour and a half, 
perhaps two hours, it proceeded with surprising spirit and energy. 
Almost every posture of which the human frame is susceptible, 
without absolutely making the feet to be uppermost, and the head 
for once to assume the place of the understanding, was exhibited. 
Some of the attitudes of the dancers were really imposing, and the 
dance as a whole could be got up and conducted only by Indians. 
The women in the performance of the corn dance, are quite by 
themselves, keeping time to the beat of the shells, and gliding along 
sideways, scarcely lifting their feet from the floor. 

It would probably be well if the Indians everywhere could be 
inclined to refrain at least from the more grotesque and boisterous 
peculiarities of this dance. The influence of these can not be pro- 
ductive of any good; and it is questionable whether it would be 
possible, so long as they are retained, to assimilate them to any 
greater degree of civilization or to more refined methods of living 
and enjoyment, than they now possess. The same may be said of 
certain characteristics of the still more vandalic war dance. This, 
however, was not introduced at the council. 

A part of the proceedings of Friday, the last day of the council, 
bore resemblance to those of the preceding day. Jemmy Johnson 
resumed his preaching, at the close of which the corn dance was 
again performed, though with far more spirit and enthusiasm than 



The constitution of The five nations 131 

at the 'first. Double the number that then appeared — all hardy and 
shiewy men, attired in original and fantastic style, among whom 
was one of the chiefs of the confederacy, together with forty or 
fifty women of the different nations — now engaged and for two 
hours persevered in the performance of the various complicated and 
fatiguing movements of this dance. The appearance of the dusky 
throng, with its increased numbers and, of course, apportionably 
increased resources for the production of shrill whoops and noisy 
stamping, and for the exhibition of striking attitudes and rampant 
motions, was altogether strange, wonderful and seemingly super- 
human. 

After the dance had ceased another kind of " sport," a well- 
contested foot race, claimed attention. In the evening after another 
supper in the council house, the more social dances — the trotting, 
the fish, and one in which the women alone participated — were 
resumed. The fish dance seemed to be the favorite ; and being 
invited to join it by one of the chiefs, we at once accepted the 
invitation, and followed in mirthful chase of pleasure, with a hun- 
dred forest children. Occasionally the dances are characterized 
by ebullitions of merriment and flashes of real fun ; but generally 
a singular sobriety and decorum are observed. Frequently, when 
gazing at a throng of sixty or perhaps a hundred dancers, we have 
been scarcely able to decide which was the most remarkable, the 
staid and imperturbable gravity of the old men and women, or the 
complete absence of levity and frolicsomeness in the young. 

The social dances of the evening, with occasional speeches from 
the sachems and chiefs, were the final and concluding ceremonies of 
this singular but interesting affair. Saturday morning witnesses 
the separation of the various nations, and the departure of each 
to their respective homes. 

The writer would like to have said a word or two in relation to 
the present condition and prospects of the Indians, but the original 
design in regard to both the topics and brevity of this writing having 
been already greatly transcended, it must be deferred. The once 
powerful confederacy of the Six Nations, occupying in its palmy 
days the greater portion of New York State, now number only a 
little over 3000. Even this remnant will soon be gone. In view of 
this, as well as of the known fact that the Indian race is everywhere 
gradually diminishing in number, the writer can not close without 
invoking for this unfortunate people, renewed kindliness and 
sympathy and benevolent attention. It is true that, with some few 
5 



132 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

exceptions, they possess habits and characteristics which render 
them difficult to approach ; but still they are only what the Creator 
of us all has made them. And let it be remembered, it must be a 
large measure of kindliness and benevolence, that will repay the 
injustice and wrong that have been inflicted upon them. 

R. S. G. 
Rochester, October 7, I845 



APPENDIX C 



MINUTES OF THE SIX NATIONS COUNCIL OF 1839^ 
LIST OF CHIEFS 
Selected and inaugurated at the Six Nations' Council at 
the Six Nations Onondaga Council House, July 17, 1839 

Sen (eca) 
Of the Chicken Hawk Tribe 

1 Shagehjowa, Joseph Silverheels of 
Cattaraugus Reservation a Sachem of the 
Long House of the Six nations 

(Capt. Jones of Allegany, Gan'nage). 

2 Sgandiuhgwadi, Owen Blacksnake 

James Robinson (Shaweeget) of Allegany 
abdicated in favor of Blacksnake 
A War Chief. 
Of the Snipe tribe 

1 Hah-jih-nya-was, Jacob Johnson 

Walter Thomson (Honondahes) of Cattaraugus 
Sachem of the Senecas 

2 Degas swen'gaent, Davis Isaac 

(English name not known) (Othowa) of Cattaraugus 

War Chief. 
Of the Swan tribe — 

1 Deyugahasha, John Mitten 

(Old Greenblanket, Don dae han) of Buffalo reservation. 
Sachem or as we might say sub-sachem for the Senecas, but 
not entitled to a seat in the Six Nations' Council 

2 Ga'nayuehse. James Pierce 

English name not known (Toa'wihdoh) 

War Chief. 
Of the Deer Tribe 

1 Swaowaeh, Jonah 

White Chief Deganohsoga of Buffalo reservation 
War Chief 

2 Dohsihdasgowa, John Baldwin 

(George White Sa'gonondano of Buffalo.) 
War Chief 



1 From the original manuscript. 



134 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

3 Haondyeyah, Lewis Kennedy 

(Capt. M'Gee Thoiwae) of Tonawanda 
Sachem of the Senecas. 

These four clans are brethren 
Of the Wolf tribe 

1 Deonihhoga'hwa, Blacksmith 

Little Johnson of Buffalo (Ja-oyah-geah) deposed 
of Tonawanda — 

Sachem of the Six Nations 

2 Ganiyas, John Dickie 

(No English name) (Dijihhnak) of Cattaraugus 
War chief and runner under the preceding. 

3 Degaaont, John Kennedy jr 

(No English name) (Gagoh) of Buffalo 
War Chief 

4 Gasgaodoh, John Joshua Bluesky 
(Two Guns) Gihdoondoh of Buffalo 
Killed in battle of Chippeway 

Sachem of the Senecas 

5 Hayahsajih, Peter Johnson 
(Old Two Guns, brother 

of the preceding.) (Degeyahgoh) 

War Chief 

6 Gayahsodoh George Green Blanket 



(No English name) 


(Gonyus,) 




Buffalo 


War Chief 




Dagehsaheh 


Isaac Shanks 


(Reuben James) 


(Jiyakhoh) 




Tonawandi 


Sachem of the 


Senecas 


Of the Turtle tribe. 




Hadogut 


Jacob Shongo 


(No English name) 


Waonohsihdeh 




of Allegany 


Sachem of Seneca 


Gahnase 


Abram John ■ 


(No English name) 


(Ganayahseh) 




Of Cattaraugus 


Sachem of Senecas 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS I35 



Ganihdadehaoh 




(No English name) Danl Spring 


of Tonawandi 


War 


Chief. James, Spring 


Gahnaodoh 


Gananwehdooh 


(Thomson S. Harris) 




(deposed) 


Buffalo 


War Chief 




Speaker for the women. 


Of the Beaver tribe 




Aanishadekhah 




Abram Johny John 




Tall Chief 


Howanyaondyo 


of Genesee 


Buffalo 


Sachem for the Senecas 


Ohgahdont 


Isaac Johny John 


Guardian of the preced 


iing during his minority 


Doahsah 


Hemlock 


(Jack Berry) 


(Jinohsowa) 




Buffalo 


Sachem for the 


Senecas 


Dayagodahseh 


George Turkey 


(Jack Snow) 


(Dyneah) 




Cattaraugus 


War Chief 




Haya'ndaga'nyahhah 




Joe Hemlock 


Peter White 


Thayah'dah'ah 


War Chief 


Cattaraugus 


Of the Bear Clan 




Gahgwasah 


Saul Logan 




Shoiwagayat 




Buffalo 


War Chief 




Aodogweh 


Jack Doxtator 




Haja'anoh 




Buffalo 


War Chief 




These five Clans are 


brothers like the preceding four. 


Of the Cayuga 


Nation 


Of the Swan Tribe 



136 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

1 Waowawanaok, Peter Wilson 
No English name (Dyawegaathet) 

Buffalo 
Sachem of the Cayugas 

2 Ganyah'geodoh Jacob Seneca 

Hahsegwih 
Buffalo 
War Chief and runner for the preceding. 
Of the Snipe Clan. 
I Gendaohoh' Joseph Peter 

James Young Darhsas 

War Chief 
The preceding minutes were taken at the time of the trans- 
action recorded and are the original thereof. 

AsHER Wright 

RECORD OF A CONDOLENCE COUNCIL 
The Mourning Council for the raising of chiefs 
See writing on letter & consult other interpreters for the full 
meaning of the rest of the song. 



Very mournful and solemn " There lays a number of with their 
horns on!! (Emblems of power like Hebrews) 

Rehearsing the ancient custom that when they come we will 
give them a part of the five, (as he did in the beginning of the 
ceremony) Here ends the first song. 



This was sung by Hyah'dajiwak after Col. Silversmith had pre- 
sented the five as above. Then Elijah Williams answered by 
alluding to the loss they had & gave a string of wampum re- 
counted the meanings of the several strings. Thanks them for 
wiping away their tears & this day thank the Great Spirit that they 
can thus cleanse away their grief and smoke the pipe of peace to- 
gether, & then replies in a simular manner. We have come and 
found you also mourning and we also wipe away your tears, etc. 
Then Hayahdijiwak informed them that Gov. Blacksnake would 
take the lead of the Oneida party. 

Then the Seneca side started — 

(Dan'a says that if any portion of the Six Nations should go 
off he will be the confederacy) 



THE COXSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 1 37 

Soon after the other side led by Blacksnakc and young Jones 
repaired to the Coun il House and were received there by others 
who were seated there. Then came waiting & for many minutes 
one of the Oneidas second in the march walked the floor carrying 
the bag of old things & sang a wailing song, being frequently 
answered by the other side with a long wail & once by Elijah 
Williams. (What must be the feeling of these men.) Again 
Williams wails in a high tone & then others in a suppressed note 
an octave below. \\'ms. wails again & the low note is repeated 
& the bag bearer goes on singing. Now the wail and low tone are 
responded from the other side of the house. (I believe in his 
song he is repeating the names of the hadiyanne & then offices) of 
all the Six Nations. Now he is upon the Onordagas, and now 
they wail again as before. Now again. Now again. Is it re- 
peated when he is coming to the names of the dead? Or is it at 
the finishing of those who belong to the same tribe? The latter 
I think or both. 

Hai ! Hai gayahaagweniohgwe ! 
Now he is upon the Cayugas. The exclamation hai ! hai ! seems a 
mourning interjection at the beginning of every sentence, between 
all the simple sentences & at the close of every paragraph. (Once 
Wms. made a little mistake & began to wail a word or two too 
soon & I noticed a little smiling) Now he is upon the Senecas. 
And- now done & he has sat down by the side of Elijah Williams 
& now he has risen &■ '^^^gan to speak instead of singing & desired 
them all to hear & said i have spoken the old way, continue it for 
one benefit, let it be followed forever. 

Then silence and something whi-h seemed like a consultation 
for several minutes followed. At length blankets were brought 
and a cord stretched across the Council House so as to separate 
the two parties from each other and cut oflf communication. Then 
another long interval of waiting. Then a bench was brought in 
to the Cayuga side and the wampum laid out before the masters 
of ceremonies, preparatory to the songs etc. These songs are the 
several articles of the ancient confederacy. Art i Hai hai! Hai 
hi hi haih ne etc. closing with a semitone downward slide of the 
voice etc. 

It was so made everything was right when altogether they did it. 
There a relationship was made between them. (Song and response 
regular always interspersed with hai etc.) A chief warrior i. e. 
This wampum is so called, I suppose a chief or great woman. It 
was by their transaction tliat this operation goes forward. 



138 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

After singing thus far he rose and made a wonderful speech to 
the dead man who invented the ceremonies, stating that, we have 
heard from our forefathers that these Nations will become extinct 
but we have now come to raise up chiefs and let the people hear 
the laws of our forefathers. Then he sung over the same speech. 

Then Elijah Williams rose & recounted what was done in an- 
cient times something like a declaration of independence repeating 
the names of the nations, or the others, united in one house & of 
the Sachems addressing the speech to "Ak sut " i. e. the other side, 
I suppose regarding them as the mother as it were of the Con- 
federacy. (Here needs more inquiry) 

Speaking of Ganinduiyes who used to live at Tonawanta, called 
him a Long Hickory Tree. After he had finished he received four 
papers of tobacco from the other side of the house & (shouted as 
it were.) 



Then the other Oneida, Peter Williams, rose and took a string 
of wampum & explained the duties of a chief warrior as agreed by 
our forefathers that he must look to all the people and take care 
of them all old, young, women, children, creepers & the breast etc. 
So it was unanimously agreed (This was the black wampum) 



2 A short wampum signifying that when a chief is buried his 
grave must be leveled as soon as possible (i. e. a new chief must 
be chosen) 

3 As soon as done always gives over to the other side & Wm. 
had another Comforting all who have been called to mourning 
by the death of Chiefs so as not to feel their loss always. 

4 Now another sun breaks through the clouds and enlightened 
the faces which were sad before. 

5 When the council five bands have been all scattered they 
must be gathered together again, i. e. when death has scattered 
the chiefs they must be collected again around the council fire and 
fill their places. 

6 This is to comfort and pacify & satisfy the minds of the 
Chiefs, so that they can come together cheerfully to transact 
business. 

7 If any of the chiefs go contrary to the law, the chiefs & chief 
warriors must consult the mother and follow her advice, thus, say 
we three of the children who are charging you. 

8 We have poured water into the thirsty throats that they may 
be able to feel comfortable and speak freely. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS I39 

9 He must carry his bag always whenever he goes anywhere 
he must go and stand by the corner of the fire and draw out his 
speech from the bag and if need be draw out his arrows also and 
declare war. 



10 Requesting them to appoint men to fill the places of the dead 
and tell us that we may know who they are — (And then he 
joked a little and said we three brothers have got through, it is 
time to adjourn & we can get to the tavern.) 

Then Hayahdajiwak rose and requested the three brothers to 
have patience. 

The curtain was put up in the other side of the house and 
preparations made to send back another set of wampums to be 
kept by this party. 

(Meanwhile the four papers of tobacco had been divided among 
the three brothers.) 



Now the other side commence with a kind of a shout to call 
attention & a repetition of the Songs nearly as before with a 
wampum before them on the little bench. 

(It is said the words are the same as used by the Oneidas, 
although sung by an Onondaga. Probably a form either com- 
pounded to suit the occasion or perhaps one of the ancient lan- 
guages as it was hundreds of years ago.) 



In the song on the other side they mentioned the death of the 
fathers. Now these sing that the children are alive yet (of course 
we are not in mourning as before). Oyehgwohdoh was the name 
of the founder of the confederacy. 



Sing again we must always hear what our ancestors have said 
and hear the Chief Woman who can call a council of the women 
and tell their voice in council among the chiefs & they are obliged 
to listen, as to a chief (or perhaps more seriously). 



Now the wampums are sent back beginning with the black one. 

It is true as you have said we have experienced a great loss 
et.^. & we will do as well as we can etc. 

(Note certain of the wampums not brought or delayed.) 

Note the peculiar manner of recitation accent on the first syll- 
able spoken & then again on the last. I think these replies ac- 
companying the several strings of wampum were (or mean) " Now 



140 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

the word shall go forth in relation to what you have spoken." 
" Our children (or younger brothers) all which you have said is 
wise. It is a good matter. You are wise. Now hear, all which 
you have spoken relative to this string of wampum is wise & 
we will do accordingly " — 

But there is some variation in the words used according to the 
particular charge given by the party. 

There are two sets of wampum & every time new chiefs are 
elected these are exchanged and kept till the next election by the 
two parties. (Did the two parties originate in the conjunction of 
the two confederacies in ancient times?) 

Then he proceeded to bring forward the newly elected chiefs. 

I Shagehjowa- Joseph Silverheels a sachem. Degahnoge 



You have requested us to tell us who we appoint to a co-worker 
with the chiefs in accordance with the example of our forefathers 
and now we have brought him forward, now know him, & know 
that he is called such an one. 



2 In the place of Robinson i. e. next to the chief warrior, 
Dyaiidinhgwadih, Owen Black Snake, Shaweegah'. 

3 Twenty Summers, John Mitten. 

(It is said that they have a string of wampum for every name 
and that these are kept so that the names may not be lost.) 

4 A man not here, living at Alleghany in place of Ganaynihse, 
dead James Pierce. 



5 In the place of Gaswahgaah, lives at Cattaraugus, Chief 
Warrior. 



6 Daandieyah, a young man at Tonawandi. 



7 Sgaowai, Jonah — White Chief, Gahnyagoh. 



8 Daashihdasgowa, John Baldwin. 



9 Hahjihnyaway Dea. Jacob Johnson 
Walter Thompson. 

10 In place of Little Johnson, (deposed) Dasnihogahweh, Black- 
smith of Tonawandi, Gaoyah'gea. 

11 Janiyahs, not present. John Dicker. 

12 Degaaout, John Kennedy. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS I4I 

13 Ciasgaa-doh' John Joshua Sachem Gih'oh, in place of Two 
Guns, father of Henry Two Guns and Daniel, killed in battle of 
Chippeway — 

14 Hayasajih, War Chief Gih'-oh. 
Peter Johnson 

(Degiyah'goh) in place of old Two Guns, brother of pre- 
ceding. 

15 Gayahsodoh', George Green Blanket in place of his grand- 
father some time since dead. 



16 Waadogut, Jacob Shongo, Dep. Sachem. 



17 Dagehsadeh young man from Tonawandi. 



18 Gah'nase, Abram John sub Sachem. 



19 Gah'ncodoh' James Spring in place of T. S. Harris deposed. 



20 Ganehdadihdaoh. A young man from Tonawandi 



Then Hayahdajiwak said that is all and Peter Williams begun 
to speak when Col. Silversmith beckoned him down and Hayahda- 
jiwak proceeded. 

21 To put in Saul Logan Gaahgwas-Chief or head of the 
warriors. 



22 Othaoh'dogweh. Jack Doxtader, a chief of the warriors. 



23 In place of Jack Berry Doasah (Sub Sachem) lives at the 
falls. 



24 Ohaneshadekhah'. Johnny Johnny John's son Sub-Sachem. 



25 Isaac Johnny John. Guardian of preceding till he grew up. 



26 Peter White of Cattaraugus Playandaganyathah. 



27 George Turkey, Do Da-yagodrdisch War chiefs. 



Now he says we have finished for the Senecas, Doorkeepers. 



14^ XEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Then Peter Williams ansd. and charged the chiefs to take care of 
the people and not do anything contrary to the will of the people 
and not to trust in their own wisdom because they are elevated not 
to tr}- to get above them but to proxnote their benefit and conform 
to the laws of the Six Nations. 

If it had not been for the wampums which have been preserved 
it would have been difficult to have filled all these offices, of those 
which are dead, etc. etc. 

Congratulates them highly and says there is only one thing 
lacking i. e. we begin to feel hungry — Then sat down but sooo 
after rose. Held a wampum in his hand and made a speech & 
proceeded to put Peter Wilson i Waowawavaok, a Cayuga chief 
in place of some old man and also Wm King resigned to him his 
office. 

2 Jacob G. Seneca was put in his second Ganyahgeodoh. 

3 Joseph Satourette in place of James Young, Gehdaodoh. 
— and made a speech afterward and presented a wampum but I 
had no interpreter at hand & could not tmderstand whether 
another chief was put in or not. 

About this time the provisions were brought in. 

Peter Williams sat down & soon a shout was raised or waiL I 
do not know what to call it. (Elevated note drawn out & then the 
low octave followed) & was soon after repeated. After some 
moments repeated again and drawn out longer than before — 

Then a long interval, while there were more provisions brought 
in, in which the assembled seemed to get in promiscuous conversa- 
tion in a low tone and many were going out and coming in as if 
to relieve themselves after so long a confinement. 

When Hayahdajiwak began to speak and as I supposed returned 
thanks and compliments & gave some notices etc. and then invited 
them according to the rule of our forefathers to take the food 
before they go out that they may be strengthened & then took a 
wampum and presented it to this side with an exhortation never 
to flinch from duty nor fail to come when called to a council of 
this kind. We exhort you and exhort ourselves. 

Then Peter Williams took the same wampum and gave an answer 
that we were bound together again in fellowship according to the 
rules of our forefathers. We three brothers on this side of as you 
on that side and all together and keep the council houses in order. 
Thus we will all do according to the wishes of our forefathers. 

Then Col. Silversmith sometime and exhorted them to keep the 
rules and create the new tunes and alluded to the dancing of the 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS I43 

night and told them of strangers coming from abroad wish to have 
anything to do with our young women we shall not withhold them 
but shall act according to the rule and those who do not wish to 
have an>i;hing to do with these things can have an opportunity to 
stay away etc. 

(According to the old custom of the Northern & perhaps of all 
other Indians) 

(And let them take warning, Dea. White says in a whisper to 
them not to act so bad.) 

Ayokhiyatgah agwus weetgat agwus weetgah agwus. 



APPENDIX D 



MINUTES OF THE 

COUNCIL OF THE SIX NATIONS, 

UPON THE CATTARAUGUS RESERVATION^ 

Dec. 1st, i<S62 

Andrew Snow made a few remarks that all the chiefs take places. 

Dewathaaseh made a few congratulatory remarks of thanks. 
According to Indian customs thanked the Great Spirit for having 
preserved of those as were, now represented in council. He further 
stated that it devolved upon the Canada Indians to proceed with the 
exposition of the law. 



Nowineehdoh' & Ganohgaihdawih' then opened the bag of 
wampum. 



Nowineehdoh' arose & spake saying that we are now got to- 
gether. When our forefathers finished the law they in the first 
place would return thanks — that was passed- 

As far as was proceeded they would go on with the exposition 
of the law — In the first place think this, we are poor it will there- 
fore depend our brother on the other side of the fire. That was 
the arrangement. 



Seneca Johnson then arose & spoke exhorting the people to listen. 

There is a goodly number — We therefore give thanks to the 
whole — It was the conclusion of my brother on the other side of 
the fire to devolve upon me. 

In the first place you were told the other day of how the law 
came into existance, lastly the Tuscaroras came into the confed- 
eracy. Our forefathers foretold of the destiny of the Indians at 
the commencement of All. council. We have now come to that. 

Long House used to sing when we were in power they went on 
in harmony. Hense they foretold what would happen. 

They have now gone to their grave. 

Their footsteps are a great way ofif that made the law. 

What I say I am responsible for 



1 From the original manuscript by N. H. Parker. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS I45 

I will commence here, my told the truth in saying that the fire 
was here — Jonodagaantyewa. He was to have a stick when he 
could not do it he was to whoop and in less than no time the chiefs 
that is all true we could not go further than what was said by 
Hohsanehdeh'. The Long House says Six Nations — Tuscarora 
came in last — 

5 nations made the law so & so — they were to be united by this 
law. If any one go through, his horns would fall off from his head. 

Or if any should fall another should be raised. 

But if any should refuse to come back by three time — they 
should take them off — Thus they arranged it, as it was to last 
forever (the law) 

It is true in what he said by saying that they should pull the 
tree &c. 

A Brand was taken from the real fire & laid into Canada after 
the expedition against the Indians. The chief went across the river. 
They had a great council at Gandayeh by name. They said we 
should put up a tha — so no one could not get one (or over ( ?)) 

They went to work — the law — here it is. We do not know all 
Deaiga — & sa — know it all they have it written. 

Concerning the tree — 

Dasdaegih to watch the west root — south root Cherochees to 
charge of done by^ Six Nations East root 7 nations St Regis took 
charge of the ocean — North root. Ojigweh nation took charge of. 

Long House did this large wampum there at Canada. 

When peace was declared Long House put fire there into Canada 
to watch the north region — This is why they said the great white 
root should grow, & we should put our heads there should anyone 
strike the root &c. 

This is the sum and substance of what the Canadians have. 

Presented a belt with 12 black crosses, the words of Otawatgae- 
noot the name where a great council was held all summer. 

Gosiweh was the name of the chief dwah'gahah' 

They was to kill the chief of the Six Nations Sawanoonoh took 
the law 

I said just now — Canada nations presented the wampum with a 
dark spot in the middle represent a bowl or dish with beaver tail 
in it — they also made a road — also presented a wampum — I say 
nothing about this wampum presenting it being the british — 

This belt represents the encircling of the Six Nations similar 
to the one at Onondaga — 



146 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Israel Jimeson wished the speaker to turn it to the females. 
You see they the chiefs cannot get through. 

Now this belt show the 12 nations said &c. 

All the nations of the Six Nations were represented. 

Dish represented with beaver meat in it They should eat to- 
gether — use no knife for fear they should cut and draw blood. 

This belt is with hearts to represent one heart. This the to 
other nations. 

This belt Brant & Niaondahgowa throwed into the fire rep- 
resenting their repentence. So all must do 



Again 

I am merely what the proceedings were here and Canada 8 year 
council was held or called of all the nations & 4 years ago another 
was held of all the nations. 

They were all united in the force of the law in Canada. 

Now at this council many were present who were educated at 
that council. 

As we now see here many are educated writing down the pro- 
ceedings for future generations as it was the plan of our fore- 
fathers — 

At this council a vote was taken whether they should adher to 
the law all rose. 

This is all I can do as I fear I might injure feelings as there 
those present who made the law 

But the main fire is not here Still it was your minds here to 
have the exposition of law again that was right. You now can 
see whether you have erred from the path of this law — 

The white man has found his gun — now fighting. Let it not 
be so with us. 

— Speech ended — 

Additional remarks — It was the intention of the Long House 
wherever a council was held to bring the fires together. We heard 
that you was to take from us the fire that is the reason &c. 



I will explain concerning this belt encircling the reason 

6 arrows in a bundle 

— We are weak — 



tHE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS I47 

The fathers & son's repentence this belt. 

The Tuscarora said I am now at ease & therefore I shall not come 
to the fire. 

I had a conversation with the British he asked me where I was 
going. I told him he said it was not right I protect you here — 
I said wonderful — your law & interest are connected by iron &c. 

I said that those who erred, were to be seen to &c. 

S. S. D. Spoke It turned upon the Tuscaroras no -chiefs here 
& it may true that he mind in peace as he is now able to take of 
chel — 

.Sigwaih'seh is here installed at Onondaga he wishes to be in 
the confederacy — 

Now and then you know they are divided still he will always 
be present & hopes that the other party will come to repentance — 

Thomas Jimeson 

Spoke &: said he was happy to my friends — I wish to 
explain — before the sale of lands I used to talk with my friends 
old Canada. I thought I would try to live a different life — I 
bought lands — pay taxes — White man collected taxes first it was 
small 2d year I went & paid taxes again pd a little more than $20 — 
Path Master came next increased a little every year — came up to 
$40 — & 50 days roads Taxes, finally they petitioned for a cor- 
poration about 2 year it went through — City tax came in collector 
posted bills to pay on ist of Oct. quite high about $110. Taxes 
must be pd or land sold — on the next Aug I pd again a little & 
on 1st of Dec since 5 year for 2 years I paid $50. — then officers 
changed time came. Tax fell off also on county Tax. 
George Buck spoke in brief 

The principal business of the day has gone by — it was con- 
cluded that the exposition of the law be made — 

The council was called some time since Now you this day. 
You all Six Na have heard what was said by the keepers of the 
fire. 

Both parties were here from Canada & here. . you have heard 
all — adwadegonih onah 

Detwathaahseh' spoke and said I will tell what happened where 
we came from — Tt was done in council. Sanctioned by Sardoha- 
hoh' Now I will tell about the chief. All claim him & for a 
reason — how we are to live encircling belt. I would say this is 
the same Six Nations joined in hands in the middle the house. 

It is therefore important should he go through or over or go in 
ground to come out & some to do for the distruction of chil — 



148 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

Again when he was chief he attended to interest of the land 
not to sell — also the interest of women chil — not to make chil. — 
or people cry — therefore his horns must fall on other nations west 
did not look to us — heads will roll 

Chiefs skin must be thick & have patience. 

Warriors beyond the circle & women ( ?) next therefore 3 
times &c. chiefs must consider their ( ?) warriors then women 

Then all shall come together to consider. 

Again how a chief shall speak chiefs shall have control of Deaths 
of chiefs to sympathize with such family. 

Chief shall hold office for life or good behavior. 

Again we see our Canada friend. We see here the fire — the 
minds seems the same concerning the law. So you ought to do. 
I shall adher to it — Speech closed. 

Wish to Amend 

How the council should never speak of dividing land by dis- 
banding the Na — 

Again 

When white man became brothers they traded land. Chiefs 
said All lands sold should be in common. 

Nowineedoh' to speak for or in behalf of the chiefs from abroad, 
listen brothers 
You see us here Onondagas — All is exposed the law in full this 
day & all we can do — 

You see us chiefs here this all they can do — 

Their minds is, we have all construed the law should a council 
be called at some other place Then you may have the whole. 

Again this thing is come to pass according to your mind — 

It now devolve upon you to consider We all see our troubles — 
some day — it is therefore you should consider carefully. 

How shall we do that our chil shall & have many days — 
Therefore you consider carefully in regard to this matter. 

This much we say in brief — I would say again you are wise 
& you can see what to do. 

Speech ended 



Little Joe spoke 

We have heard all the law exposed regard to what has been 
said. We have no time now tomorrow we will tell you. 
Dec. 2d 1862 

Council of the Six Nations resumed its deliberation by opening 
remarks of John Cook according to the custom of such councils — 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS I49 

Thanking the Great Spirit in preserving the Hves of all now 
present & those who have come from abroad — • 

The council therefore was ready to proceed to business. 
John Cook again spoke 

saying his friends had now come from Canada as they were 
to do by and by. 

It is this, that each tribe in N. Y. speak for themselves — to com- 
mune in order. When after all have spoken a certain one will be 
appointed to speak for the whole — 

Tonawandas to council first, then Alle. then Catt — They were 
then ordered to take their accustomed seats 

Tonawandas 

Jubez Ground spoke as follows : 

That it was the duty in all such gatherings to exchange words of 
thanks before proceeding to business. 

It was announced that we were the first to explain our troubles in 
council — We have divided. Some of us thought we were not going 
right — Blksmith and Jemmy Johnson were strait till their death 
Had they been living it would not have been so — 

The other side tells us that we have erred because we would not 
comply with the law. So we said to them 

Hence the party thought it best to have a council called to hear the 
exposition of the law — Our party is strong in the faith of the law. 

You understand how we stand We are divided. We stand on 
the Six Na law & will stand by it — This is the feeling of our party. 
So you understand. 

They have firm reliance on the law — 

Now we tell how large our party is who zvill adher to the law 282. 

We were told that belt was left for repentance — We have none 
to leave as they not believe they have erred. 

The above is the actual number who voluntarily wished to on our 
side joined us without threats. Thus much we explain to you and 
our position in brief 

Seneca Johnson said 

The No of your party as I understand is 282. Now I ask the 
whole No at Ton 

Isaac Doctor said that we do not know exactly but the other side 
has the majority — our party was once over 300 but fell ofif to the 
other side by threats, such as you will have no more goods & money 
if you keep the other side tS: you go to Kansas. 

Alle — 
Isaac Halftown — 



150 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

I am appointed to speak for Alle & I will be brief as respects the 
condition of our people — we have what the Ton have said 

They say that the other side has the majority how they (?) will 
do in that case I do not know. 

The Alle would be glad to get back 

They expect to take their band and explain to those left at home 

Daniel Two Guns said that he speaks for the old folks — they 
have not let go the law 

They will in the first place have to talk with the Pres. The Pres. 
have erred from the contract 

In respect to our party we have a party but cannot say how many 

So much in brief. Daniel 2 guns added 

I said we do not know but we will go to work and see & let you 
know how many wish to adher to the Six Nations Law. 

Isaac Half town spoke again saying (the Alle) we will take hold 
of it, 

I now ask concerning the wampum belt of repentance. You 
said &c 

We Catt & Alle have erred we got white man law. 

Shall we put the belt there too ? 

This is what I wish to know. 

Little Joe said the thing today was going on what was to happen. 
The Cayugas also would have the privilege to speak he has erred it 
therefore may be of some help to those who have erred to hear them 
speak. 

Joseph Isaac explained that they were ready to speak as soon 

Seneca Johnson: 

In reference to the question, let my brothers have patience until 
we answer to all that may be said. 

Dr Wilson: 

We will inform you how we feel we are much enlightened greatly 
in the exposition of the law — we therefore thank you — Now in 
reference to another matter, the white man long ago turned the In- 
dians mind — ■ 

Concerning the arrows. This is to be of one mind — we come 
from the west through the white man's advice we now have small 
pieces of land. It now depends on you old folks to determine what 
to do — 

Concerning the fires &c the white man has mixed his laws in 
criminal cases &c Then went on to relate the condition of Catt & 
Alle Reservations from the commencement up to this time, but still 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS I5I 

the idea is (our idea) that the old fellows arc still chiefs in Six 
Nations Council — 

Our idea is that there is lack in the exposition of the law. Still 
we hope that at some future time the whole will come together & 
still their faith remained the same relying on the law of the Six 
Nations 

Adjourned to cat — 
John Cook spoke for women 
Jisgoh'goh gave notice who was to make 
answer — 
Silverman spoke 
Ganyodioyoh 

Dewathaah'sech' said that our destruction is being brought about by 
the white man 

In regard to murder and theft the laws of the white man has 
jurisdiction also in case of liquor Laws by U. S. made 

Our condition is this Our old chiefs beg laws for the protection of 
timber. 



APPENDIX E 



CERTAIN IROQUOIS TREE MYTHS AND SYMBOLS^ 

A student of Iroquoian folklore, ceremony, or history will note 
the many striking instances in which sacred or symbolic trees are 
mentioned. One finds allusions to such trees not only in the myths 
and traditions that have long been known to literature, and in the 
speeches of Iroquois chiefs in council with the French and English 
colonists, but also in the more recently discovered wampum codes 
and in the rituals of the folk-cults. 

There are many references to the "tree of peace" in the colonial 
documents on Indian relations. Cadwallader Colden, for example, 
quotes the reply of the Mohawk chief to Lord Effingham in July 
1684. The Mohawk agreed to the proposals for peace and their 
spokesman said : " We now plant a Tree who's tops will reach the 
sun, and its Branches spread far abroad, so that it shall be seen 
afar off; and we shall shelter ourselves under it, and live in Peace, 
without molestation." (Gives two beavers.)- 

In a footnote Colden says that the Five Nations always express 
peace under the metaphor of a tree. Indeed, in the speech, a part of 
which is quoted above, the peace tree is mentioned several times. 

In Garangula's reply to De la Barre, as recorded by Lahontan, 
are other references to the " tree." In his " harangue " Garangula 
said: 

" We fell upon the Illinese and the Oumamis, because they cut 
down the Trees of Peace. . ." " The Tsonontouans, Gayogouans, 
Onnotagues, Onnoyoutes and Agnies declare that they interred the 
Axe at Cataracuoy in the Presence of your Predecessor the very 
Center of the Fort; and planted the Tree of Peace in the same 
place ; 'twas then stipulated that the Fort should be used as a Place 
of Retreat for Merchants, and not as a Refuge for Soldiers. You 
ought to take care that so great a number of Militial Men as we now 
see . . . do not stifle and choke the Tree of Peace ... it must 
needs be of pernicious Consequences to stop its Growth and hinder 
it to shade both your Country and ours with its Leaves." ^ 

The examples cited above are only a few of many that might be 
quoted to show how commonly the Iroquois mentioned the peace 



1 A. C. Parker; an extract from Amer. Anthropologist, v. 14, No. 4, 1912. 

2 Colden, History of the Five Nations, reprint, p. 58, New York, 1866. 

3 Lahontan, Voyages, v. i, p. 42. London, 1735. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF THE FIVE NATIONS 1 53 

tree. There are also references to the tree that was uprooted " to 
afford a cavity in which to bury all weapons of war," the tree being 
replanted as a memorial. 

In the Iroquoian myth, whether Cherokee, Huron, Wyandot, 
Seneca or i\Johawk, the " tree of the upper world " is mentioned, 
though the character of the tree differs according to the tribe and 
sometimes according to the myth-teller. 

Before the formation of the lower or earth world the Wyandot 
tell of the upper or sky world and of the " big chief " whose daugh- 
ter became strangely ill.^ The chief instructs his daughter to " dig 
up the wild apple tree ; what will cure her she can pluck from among 
its roots." David Boyle - wondered why the apple tree was called 
" wild " but that the narrator meant wild-apple and not wild apple 
is shown by the fact that in some versions the Seneca call the tree 
the crab-apple. The native apple tree with its small fruit was in- 
tended by the Indian myth-teller, who knew also of the cultivated 
apple and took the simplest way to differentiate the two. 

With the Seneca this tree is described more fully. In manu- 
script left by Mrs Asher Wright, the aged missionary to the Seneca, 
I iind the cosmologic myth as related to her by Esquire Johnson, a 
Seneca, in 1870. Mrs Wright and her husband understood the 
Seneca language perfectly and published a mission magazine in that 
tongue as early as 1838. Her translation of Johnson's myth should 
therefore be considered authentic. She wrote : 

" There was a vast expanse of water. . . . Above it was the 
great blue arch of air but no signs of anything solid. ... In the 
clear sky was an unseen floating island sufficiently firm to allow 
trees to grow upon it, and there were men-beings there. There was 
one great chief who gave the law to all the Ongweh or beings on the 
island. In the center of the island there grew a tree so tall that no 
one of the beings who lived there could see the top. On its branches 
flowers and fruit hung all the year round. The beings who lived on 
the island used to come to the tree and eat the fruit and smell the 
sweet perfume of the flowers. On one occasion the chief desired 
that the tree be pulled up. The great chief was called to look at the 
great pit which was to be seen where the tree had stood." 

The story continues with the usual description of how the sky- 
mother was pushed into the hole in the sky and fell upon the wings 
of the waterfowl who placed her on the turtle's back. After this 
mention of the celestial tree in the same manuscript is the story of 



- Connelley, W. E.. Wyandot Folk Lore. Topeka. 1889. 

2 Boyle, The Iroquois, in Archeological Report of Ontario for 1905, p. 147. 



154 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 

the central world-tree. After the birth of the twins, Light One and 
Toadlike (or dark) One, the Light One, also known as Good- 
minded, noticing that there was no light, created the " tree of 
light." This was a great tree having at its topmost branch a great 
ball of light. At this time the sun had not been created. It is 
significant, as will appear later, that the Good-minded made his tree 
of light one that brought forth flowers from every branch. After 
he had continued experimenting and improving the earth, *' he made 
a new light and hung it on the neck of a being, and he called the 
new light Gaagwaa (ga gwa) and instructed its bearer to run his 
course daily in the heavens." Shortly after he is said to have " dug 
up the tree of light, and looking into the pool of water in which the 
stump (trunk) had grown, he saw the reflection of his own face 
and thereupon conceived the idea of creating Ongwe and made them 
both a man and a woman." 

The central world-tree is found also in Delaware mythology, 
though so far as I can discover it is not called the tree of light. The 
Journal of Bankers and Slyter^ records the story of creation as 
heard from the Lenape of New Jersey in 1679. All things came 
from a tortoise, the Indians told them. " It had brought forth the 
world, and in the middle of its back had sprung a tree upon whose 
branches men had grown." - This relation between men and the 
tree is interesting in comparison with the Iroquois myth, as it is 
also conceived to be the central world-tree. Both the Lenape and 
the Iroquois ideas are symbolic and those who delight in flights of 
imagination might draw much from both. 

The Seneca world-tree is described elsewhere in my notes as a 
tree whose branches pierce the sky and whose roots extend to the 
waters of the underworld. This tree is mentioned in various cere- 
monial rites of the Iroquois. With the False Face Company, Hadigo 
sa sho o, for example, the Great Face, chief of all the F'alse Faces, 
is said to be the invisible giant that guards the world tree (gain- 
dowa ne). He rubs his turtle-shell rattle upon it to obtain its power, 
and this he imparts to all the visible false faces worn by the com- 
pany. In visible token of this belief the members of the company 
rub their turtle rattles on pine-tree trunks, believing that thereby 
they become imbued with both the earth power and the sky power. 
In this use of the turtle-shell rattle there is perhaps a recognition of 



1 Journal of Voyage to New York in 1675^80, by JasDer Bankers and Peter 
Slyter translated in Trans. L. I. Hist. Soc, v. I, 1867. 

2 With the New Enpland Indians the idea was held that men were found 
by Glooskap in a hole by an arrow which he had shot into an ash tree. 



THE CONSTITUTION OF TIIK KIVE NATIONS I55 

the connection between the turtle and the world-tree that grows 
upon the primal turtle's back. 

In the prologue of the Wampum Code of the Five Nations Con- 
federacy we again find references to a symbolic " great tree." In 
the code of Dekanawide, the Iroquois culture hero exclaims: 

" I am Dekanawide, and with the Five Nations' confederate lords 
(rodiyaner) I plant the Tree of the Great Peace. I plant it in your 
territory, Adodarho and the Onondaga nation, in the territory of 
you who are Fire Keepers. 

" I name the tree the Tree of the Great Long Leaves. Under the 
shade of this Tree of Peace we spread the soft, feathery down of 
the globe thistle, there beneath the spreading branches of the Tree 
of Peace." 

In the second " law " of the code, the four roots of the " tree " 
are described, and the law-giver says : 

" If any individual or any nation outside of the Five Nations 
shall obey the laws of the Great Peace and make known their dis- 
position to the lords of the confederacy, they may trace the roots of 
the tree, and if their minds are clean and obedient . . . they shall 
be welcome to take shelter beneath the Tree of the Long Leaves. 

" We place in the top of the Tree of the Long Leaves an Eagle 
who is able to see afar ; . . . he will warn the people." 

In another place is the following: 

" I, Dekanawide, and the union lords now uproot the tallest pine 
tree and into the cavity thereby made we cast all weapons of war. 
Into the depths of the earth, down into the deep underearth cur- 
rents of water flowing to unknown regions we cast all the weapons 
of strife. We bury them from sight and we plant again the tree. 
Thus shall the Great Peace, Kaye narhe ko wa, be established." 

These laws and figures of speech are evidently those which the 
Iroquois speakers had in mind when addressing " peace councils " 
with the whites. 

Symbolic trees appear not only in Iroquois history, mythology, 
and folk beliefs, but also in their decorative art. The numerous 
decorative forms of trees embroidered in moose hair and porcupine 
quills by the eastern Algonquians, by the Hurons, and by the 
Iroquois appear to be attempts to represent the world-tree and the 
celestial tree, in some cases, with " all manner of fruits and flowers." 
Many, if not most, of the modern descendants of the old-time In- 
dians, who copy these old designs, have forgotten their meanings, 
and some have even invented new explanations. A few of the more 
conservative, however, still remember the true meanings of their 
designs and from these much of interest has been learned. 



INDEX 



Adoption, laws of, 49 

Arrows bound together, 11, 45, loi 

Canadian Iroquois, 12 
Cayugas, younger brothers, 10 
Chiefs, ceremonies at death of, 120- 

22; ceremony of installation, 122- 

2Z 
Civil chiefs, 10; nominated by certain 

noble women, 11 
Clans and consanguinity, 42-44 
Code of Dekanahwideh, 61-109 
Confederate lords, positions of, 92- 

95 
Condolence ceremony, 1 10-13 
Condolence council, record of, 136- 

43 
Council of Six Nations, J5j9, 

minutes of, \'iZ-Z^ 
Council of the Six Nations upon the 

Cattaraugus reservation, minutes 

of, 144-51 
Cusick, Albert, correction of New- 
house manuscript, 12 

Deer's horns the emblem of power, 
91 

Dekanahwideh, 8; traditional narra- 
tive of birth, etc., 14-16, 65-109; 
Code of, 61-109 

Emigration, laws of, 50 

Fire keepers, 10 

Five Nations, rights of the people 

of, 55 
Five Nations' league, tradition of 

origin, 61-109 
Foreign nations, rights, 50-52 
Funeral addresses, 58-60 

Gayanashagowa, great binding law, 

30-60 
Great peace, 12; establishment of, 

26-29; council of, 30-60 



Hiawatha, 8, 71 

Hiawatha belt, 12, 47 

Hiawatha tradition, 1 14-18 

Hill, Hilton, copy of manuscript 

made by, 13 
House, protection of, 57 

Indian council 1^4(1, sketches of, 

126-32 
Indian words, meaning, (^z 
Installation, ceremony of, 122-23 
Installation song, 57 
Iroquois, racial superiority, 9; laws 

of peace and war, 9; absorption of 

other nations, 10; confederate 

council, 10; Canadian, 12 



Jesuit fathers, efforts to Christianize 
the Five Nations, ^2 



Laws of the confederacy, 97-10^^ 
Long house, use of term, 97 
Lords, rights, duties and qualifica- 
tions of, 34-41 

Marriage ceremony, the ancient rite, 

123 ; in later days, 124 
Mohawks, older brothers, 10 

Newhouse, Seth, manuscript writ- 
ten by, 12 

Older brothers, 10 

Oneidas, yoimger brothers, 10 

Onondagas, fire keepers, 10 

Passamaquoddy wampum records, 
119-25 

Pine tree chiefs, election, 41 ■ 

Prince, J. D., Passamaquoddy wam- 
pum records, 119-25 

Protection of the house, 57 



,157 



158 



NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Religious ceremonies protected, 56 

Schoolcraft's census of 1845, extract 

from, 126-32 
Secession of a nation, 54 
Seneca chiefs, pacification of, 96 
Senecas, older brothers, 10 
Symbolism, official, 11, 44-49 

Tradition of the origin of the Five 

Nations' league, 61-109 
Treason of a nation, 54 



Tree myths and symbols, 152-55 
Troubled nations, 16-26 

Wampum belt, 11 

Wampum keeper of the Six Na- 
tions, 7 
War, rights and powers of, 52-54 
War chiefs, names, duties and rights, 

41-42 
Women, political powers, 11 

Younger brothers, 10 



TJw University of the State of New York 
New York State Museum 
John M Clarke Director 

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vised and rearranged, and, combined with others more recently prepared, constitute Museum 
Memoir 4. 

Museum bulletins 1887-date. 8vo. To advance subscribers, $2 a year, or $1 
a year jar division (i) geology, economic geology, paleontology, mineralogy, 
50c each for division (2) general zoology, archeology, miscellaneous, (3) botany 
(4) entomology. 



Bulletins are grouped 


in the list on the following page; 


5 according to divisions. 


The divisions to which 


bulletins belong are as follows: 




I Zoology 


63 GeoloLiy 


124 Entomology 


3 Botany 


64 Entomology 


125 Archeology 


3 Economic Geology 


65 Paleontology 


126 Geology 


4 Mineralogy 


66 Miscellaneous 


127 


5 Entomology 


67 Botany 


128 


^ ^ " . ^ 


68 Entomology 


129 Entomology 


7 Economic Geology 


69 Paleontology 


130 Zoology 


8 Botany 


70 Mineralogy 


131 Botany 


9 Zoology 


71 Zoology 


132 Economic Geology 


'o Economic Geology 


72 Entomology 


133 Director's report for 1908 


' I 


73 Archeology 


134 Entomology 


I J " 


74 Entomology 


135 Geology 


1 3 Entomology 


75 Botany 


136 Entomology 


U Geology, 


76 Entomology 


137 Geology 


'S Economic Geology 


77 Geology 


138 


'6 Archeology 


78 Archeology 


139 Botany 


'7 Economic Geology 


79 Entomology 


140 Director's report for 1909 


ig Archeology 


80 Paleontology 


141 Entomology 

142 Economic Geology 


1 9 Geology 


81 Geology 


"0 Entomology 


82 


143 


2 1 Geology 


83 " 


144 Archeology 


»2 Archeology 


84 " 


145 Geology 


'3 Entomology 


8s Economic Geology 


146 


24 


86 Entomology 


147 Entomology 


25 Botany 


87 Archeology 


148 Geology 


26 Entomology 


88 Zoology 


149 Director's report for 1910 


27 


89 Archeology 


150 Botany 


=8 Botany 


90 Paleontology 


151 Economic Geology 


29 Zoology! 


91 Zoology 


152 Geology 


3o Economic Geology 


92 Paleontology 


153 


31 Entomology 


93 Economic Geology 


154 


3 2 Archeology 


94 Botany 


155 Entomology 


33 Zoology J ) 


95 Geology 


156 


34 Geology 


96 


157 Botany 


35 Economic Geology 


97 Entomology 


158 Director's report for 191 1 


36 Entomology 


98 Mineralogy 


159 Geology 


37 


99 Paleontology 


160 " 


38 Zoology 


100 Economic Geology 


161 Economic Geology 


39 Paleontology 


loi Paleontology 


162 Geology 


40 Zoology 


102 Economic Geology 


163 Archeology 


41 Archeology 


103 Entomology 


164 Director's report for 1912 


42 Geology 


104 


165 Entomology 


43 Zoology 


105 Botany 


166 Economic Geology 


44 Economic Geology 


106 Geology 


167 Botany 


45 Paleontology 


107 Geology anrl PalconLjlogy 


168 Geology 


46 Entomology 


108 Archeology 


169 " 


47 " 


log Entomology 


170 " 


48 Geology 


no " 


171 


49 Paleontology 


III Geologv 


172 " 


So Archeology 


112 Economic Geology 


173 Director's report for 1913 


51 Zoology 


113 Archeology 


174 Economic Geology 


52 Paleontology 


114 Geology 


175 Entomology 


S3 Entomology 


IIS 


176 Botany 


S4 Botany 


116 Botany 


177 Director's report for 1914 


55 Archeology 


117 Archeology 


178 Economic Geology 


56 Geology 


118 Geology 


179 Botany 


57 Entomology 


119 Economic Geology 


iSo Entomology 


58 Mineralogy 


120 


181 Economic Geology 


59 Entomology 


121 Director's report for 1907 


182 Geology 


60 Zoology 


122 Botany 


183 


61 Economic Geology 


123 Economic Geology 


184 Archeology 


62 Miscellaneous 







MUSEUM PUBLICATIONS 



Bulletins are also found with 


the annual reports of the museum 


as follows: 






Bulletin 


Report 


Bulletin 


Report 


Bulletin 


Report 


Bulletin 


Report 


12-15 


48, V. I 


79 


57, V. I, pt 


2 1 1 9-2 1 


61, V. I 


ISS 


65. V. 2 


16.17 


so. V 






57, V. I. pt 


I 122 


6 I . V. 2 


IS6 


65. V 


2 


18.19 


51. V 




81,82 


58. V 




123 


61. V 




157 


65, V 


2 


20-2S 


52, V 




83.84 


S8, V 






61. V 




158 


65. V 




a6-3i 


S3, V 




85 


58. V 




125 


62. V 




159 


65, V 




32-34 


54, V 




80 


58, V 




126-28 


62. V 




160 


65. V 




35.36 


54, V 




87-89 


58. V 




129 


62. V 




l6l 


6s. V 




37-44 


54. V 




90 


58, V 




130 


62, V 




16^ 


65, V 




45-48 


54, V 




91 






131,13= 


62, V 




163 


66. V 




49-54 


5';, V 




92 


58." V 




133 


62, V 




I'M 


66. V 




SS 


56, V 




93 


58, V 




134 


62. V 




165-67 


66. V 




S6 


SO, V 




94 


S8, V 




135 


03. V 




168-70 


66. V 




57 


56. V 




95.96 


58. V 




136 


63. V 




171-76 


67 


S8 


56. V 




97 


58, V 




i.i7 


6^^, V 








59,60 


56, V 




98,99 


59. V 






63. V 




Memoir 




61 


56. V 




100 


59, V 




139 


'■3, V 




2 


49. V. 3 


62 


56. V 




101 


59. V 




140 


63, V 




3,4 


S3. V. 2 


63 


56. V 




102 


59, V 




141 


'M . V 




5,6 


57, V. 3 


64 


56. V 




103-5 


59, V 




142 


63. V 




7 


57, V. 4 


6S 


56. V 




106 


59. V 




14^ 


6,1, V 




8, rt I 


59. V. 3 


66.67 


56, V 




107 


60, V 




144 


64, V 




8, pt 2 


59, V. 4 


68 


S6. V 




108 


60, V 




145 


64, V 




9, pt I 


60. V. 4 


69 


56, V 




109 . no 60, V 




146 


64, V 




9, pt 2 


62, V. 4 


70,71 


5 7, V 


I. pt I 


III 


60, V 




147 


64, V 




10 


60, V. s 


72 


57. V 


I. pt 2 


112 


60, V 




148 


64, V 




I 1 


61. V. 3 


73 


S7. V 




113 


60, V 




149 


64. V 




12.pt I 


63. V. 3 


74 


57. V 


i.pt 2 


114 


60, V 




ISO 


64. V 




12. pt 2 


66, V. 3 


75 


57. V 




115 


60, V 




151 


64. V 




13 


63 V. 4 


76 


57, V 


I, pt 2 


116 


60, V 




152 


64, V 




14. V. I 


6S. V. 3 


77 


57. V 


i.pt I 


117 


60, V 


3 


153 


64, V 




14, V. 3 


65, V. 4 


78 


57, V 




118 


60, V 


I 


154 


64, V. 











The figures at the beginning cf each entry in the following list indicate its number as a 
museum bulletin. 

Geology and Paleontology. 14 Kemp, J. F. Geology of Moriah and West- 
port Townships, Essex Co., N. Y., with notes on the iron mines. 38p. 
il. 7pl. 2 maps. Sept. 1895. Free. 

19 Merrill, F. J. H. Guide to the Study of the Geological Collections of 
the New York State Museum. i64p. i igpl. map. Nov. 1898. Out of print. 

21 Kemp, J. F. Geology of the Lake Placid Region. 24p. ipl. map. Sept. 
1898. Free. 

34 Cumings, E. R. Lower Silurian System of Eastern Montgomery County; 
Prosser, C. S. Notes on the Stratigraphy of Mohawk Valley and Sara- 
toga County, N. Y. 74p. i4pl. map. May 1900. 15c. 

39 Clarke, J. M.; Simpson, G. B. & Loomis, F. B. Paleontologic Papers i. 
72p. il. i6pl. Oct. 1900. 15c. 

Contents: Clarke. J. M. A Remarkable Occurrence of Orthoceras in the Oneonta Beds of 
the Chenango Valley, N. Y. 

Paropsonema cryptophya; a Peculiar Echinoderm from the Intumescens-zone 

(Portage Beds) of Western New York. 

Dictyonine Hexactinellid Spoii'^^is from the Upper Devonic of New York. 

The Water Biscuit of Squaw Island, Canandaigua Lake, N. Y. 

Simpson, G. B. Preliminary Descriptions of New Genera of Paleozoic Rugose Corals. 
Loomis. F. B. Siluric Fungi from Western New York. 
42 Ruedemann, Rudolf. Hudson River Beds near Albany and their Taxo- 

nomic Equivalents. ri6p. 2pl. map. Apr. 1901. 25c. 
45 Grabau, A. W. Geology and Paleontology of Niagara Falls and Vicinity. 
286p. il. i8pl. map. Apr. 1901. 65c; cloth, 90c. 

48 Woodworth, J. B. Pleistocene Geology of Nassau County and Borough 
of Queens. sSp. il. 8pl. map. Dec. 1901. 25c. 

49 Ruedemann, Rudolf; Clarke, J. M. & Wood, Elvira. Paleontologic 
Papers 2. 2 4op. i3pl. Dec. 1901. Out of print. 

Contents: Ruedemann, Rudolf. Trenton Conglomerate of Rysedorph Hill. 

Clarke, J. M. Limestones of Central and Western New York Interbedded with Bitumi- 
nous Shales of the Marcellus Stage. 

Wood, Elvira. Marcellus Limestones of Lancaster, Erie Co.. N. Y. 

Clarke, J. M. New .^gelacrinites. 

Value of Amnigenia as an Indicator of Fresh-water Deposits durin" the Devonic of 

New York, Ireland and the Rhineland. 

52 Clarke, J. M. Report of the State P:;leontologir,t 1901. 28op. il. lopl. 
map, I tab. July 1902. 40c. 



THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

56 Merrill, F. J. H. Description of the State Geologic Map of 1901. 42P 

2 maps, tab. Nov. 1902. Free. 
63 Clarke, J. M. & Luther, D. D. Stratigraphy of Canandaigua and Naples 

Quadrangles. ySp. map. June 1904. 25c. 
65 Clarke, J. M. Cat^alogue of Type Specimens of Paleozoic Fossils in the 

New York State Museum. 848P. May 1903. $1.20, cloth. 
69 Report of the State Paleontologist 1902. 464P. 52pl. 7 maps. Nov. 

1903. $1, cloth. 
77 Gushing, H. P. Geology of the Vicinity of Little Falls, Herkimer Co. 

98p. il. ispl. 2 maps. Jan. 1905. 30c. 

80 Clarke, J. M. Report of the State Paleontologist 1903. 396p. 29pl. 
2 maps. Feb. 1905. 850, cloth. 

81 Clarke, J. M. & Luther, D. D. Watkins and Elmira Quadrangles. 32p. 
map. Mar. 1905. 25c. 

82 Geologic Map of the TuUy Quadrangle. 4op. map. Apr. 1905. 20c. 

83 Woodworth, J. B. Pleistocene Geology of the Mooers Quadrangle. 62p. 
2 5pl. map. June 1905. 25c. 

84 Ancient Water Levels of the Champlain and Hudson Vallevs. 2o6p. 

il. iipl. 18 maps. July 1905. 45c. 

90 Ruedemann, Rudolf. Cephalopoda of Beekmantown and Chazy For- 
mations of Champlain Basin. 224p. il. 3Spl. May 1906. 75c, cloth. 

92 Grabau, A. W. Guide to the Geology and Paleontology of the Schoharie 
Region. 314P. il. 26pl. map. Apr. 1906. 75c, cloth. 

95 Cushing, H. P. Geology of the Northern Adirondack Region. i88p. 
i5pl. 3 maps. Sept. 1905. 30c. 

96 (Jgilvie, L H. Geology of the Paradox Lake Quadrangle. 54p. il. i7pl. 
map. Dec. 1905. 30c. 

99 Luther, D. D. Geology of the Buffalo Quadrangle. 32p. map. May 

1906. 20c. 

loi Geology of the Penn Yan-Hammondsport Quadrangles. 28p. 

map. July 1906. Out of print. 

106 Fairchild, H. L. Glacial Waters in the Erie Basin. 88p. i4pl. 9 maps. 
Feb. 1907. Out of print. 

107 Woodworth, [. B.; Hartnagel, C. A.; Whitlock, H. P.; Hudson, G. H.; 
Clarke, J. M. ; White, David & Berkey, C. P. Geological Papers. 388p. 
54pl. map. May 1907. 90c, cloth. 

Contents: Woodworth, J. B. Postglacial Faults of Eastern New York. 
Hartnagel, C. A. Stratigraphic Relations of the Oneida Conglomerate. 

Upper Siluric and Lower Devonic Formations of the Skunnemunk Mountain Region. 

Whitlock, H. P. Minerals from Lyon Mountain, Clinton Co. 

Hudson. G. H. On Some Pelmatozoa from the Chazy Limestone of New York. 

Clarke, J. M. Some New Devonic Fossils. 

An Interesting Style of Sand-filled Vein. 

Eurypterus Shales of the Shawangunk .Mountains in Eastern New York. 

White, David. A Remarkable Fossil Tree Trunk from the Middle Devonic of New York. 
Berkey, C. P. Structural and Stratigraphic Features of the Basal Gneisses of the High- 
lands.! 

Ill Fairchild, H. L. Drumlins of New York. 6op. 28pl. 19 maps. July 

1907. Out of print. 

114 Hartnagel, C. A. Geologic Map of the Rochester and Ontario Beach 
Quadrangles. 36p. map. Aug. 1907. 20c. 

115 Cushing, H. P. Geology of the Long Lake Quadrangle. 8Sp. zopi 
map. Sept. 1907. 25c. 

118 Clarke, J. M. & Luther, D. D. Geologic Maps and Descriptions of the 
Portage and Nunda Quadrangles including a map of Letchworth Park. 
5op. i6pl. 4 maps. Jan. 1908. 35c. 

126 Miller, W. J. Geology of the Remsen Quadrangle. 54p. il. iipl. map. 
Jan. 190Q. 25c. 

127 Fairchild, H. L. Glacial Waters in Central New York. 64P. 2 7pl. 15 
maps. Mar. 1909. Out of print. 

128 Luther, D. D. Geology of the Geneva-Ovid Quadrangles. 44p. map 
Apr. 1909. 20c. 

135 Miller, W. J. Geology of the Port Leyden Quadrangle, Lewis County, 
N. Y. 62p. il. Iipl. map. Jan. 1910. 25c. 



MUSEUM PUBLICATIONS 

137 Luther, D. D. Geology of the Auburn-Genoa Quadrangles. 36p. map. 
Mar. 1910. 20c. 

138 Kemp, J. F. & Ruedemann, Rudolf. Geology of the Elizabethtown 
and Port Henry Quadrangles. i76p. il. 2opl. 3 maps. Apr. 1910. Not 
available. 

145 Gushing, H. P.; Fairchild, H. L.; Ruedemann, Rudolf & Smyth, C H. 
Geology of the Thousand Islands Region. ic)4p. il. 62pl. 6 maps. Dec. 
1 010. $1, cloth. 

146 Berkey, C. P. Geologic Features and Problems of the New York City 
(Catskill) Aqueduct. 2S6p. il. 38pl. maps. Feb. 1911. 75c; cloth, Si. 

148 Gordon, C. E. Geology of the Poughkeepsie Quadrangle. i22p. il. 
26pl. map. Apr. 1911. 30c. 

152 Luther, D. D. Geology of the Honeoye-Wayland Quadrangles. 3op. 
map. Oct. 1911. 20c. 

153 Miller, William J. Geology of the Broadalbin Quadrangle, Fulton- 
Saratoga Counties, New York. 66p. il. 8 pi. map. Dec. 191 1. 25c. 

154 StoUer, James H. Glacial Geology of the Schenectady Quadrangle. 44p. 
9 pi. map. Dec. 1911. 20c. 

159 Kemp, James F. The Mineral Springs of Saratoga. Sop. il. 3pl, Apr. 
1912. 15c. 

160 Fairchild, H. L. Glacial Waters in the Black and Mohawk Valleys. 48p. 
il. 8pl. 14 maps. May 191 2. 50c. 

162 Ruedemann, Rudolf. The Lower Siluric Shales of the Mohawk Valley. 
I52p. il. i5pl. Aug. 1912. 35c. 

168 Miller, William J. Geological History of New York State. i3op. 43pl. 
ID maps. Dec. 1913. 40c. 

169 Gushing, H. P. & Ruedemann, Rudolf. Geology of Saratoga Springs and 
Vicinity. I78p. il. 20 pi. map. Feb. 1914. 40c. 

170 Miller, William J. Geology of the North Creek Quadrangle, gop. il. I4pl. 
Feb. 1914. 25c. 

171 Hopkins, T. C. The Geology of the Syracuse Quadrangle. 8op. il. 20pl. 
map. July 1914. 25c. 

172 Luther, D. D. Geology of the Attica and Depew Quadrangles. 32p. map. 
Aug. 1914. 15c. 

182 Miller, William J. The Geology of the Lake Pleasant Quadrangle. 76p. 
il. I op] map. Feb. 1916. 25c 

183 Stoller, James H. Glacial Geology of the Saratoga Quadrangle, sop. il. 
I2p]. map. Mar. i, 1916. 25c. 

Miller, William J. Geology of the Blue Mountain Quadrangle. Prepared. 

Martin, James C. & Chadwick, George H. Geology of the Canton Quad- 
rangle. In press. 

Luther, D. D. Geology of the Phelps Quadrangle. In preparation. 

Whitnall, H. O. Geology of the Morrisville Quadrangle. Prepared. 

Hudson, G. H. Geology of Valcour Island. In preparation. 

Economic Geology. 3 Smock, J. C. Building Stone in the State of New 
York. iS4p. Mar. 1888. Out of print. 

7 First Report on the Iron Mines and Iron Ore Districts in the State 

of New York. 78p. map. June 1889. Out of print. 

10 Building Stone in New York. 2iop. map, tab. Sept. 1S90. Not 

available. 

11 Merrill, F. J. H. Salt and Gypsum Industries of New York. 94p. ispl. 
2 maps, II tab. Apr. 1893. Not available. 

12 Ries, Heinrich. Clay Industries of New York. 174P. il. ipl. map. Mar. 
1895. 30c. 

15 Merrill, F. J. H. Mineral Resources of New York. 240P. 2 maps 

Sept. 1895. [50c] 
17 Road Materials and Road Building in New York. 52p. i4pl. 

2 maps. Oct. 1897. 15c. 

30 Orton, Edward. Petroleum and Natural Gas in New York. i36p. il. 

3 maps. Nov. 1899. 15c. 

35 Ries, Heinrich. Clays of New York; Their Properties and Uses. 456p. 
i4opl. map. June 1900. Out of print. 



THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

44 Lime and Cement Industries of New York; Eckel, E. C. Chapters 

on the Cement Industry. 332P. loipl. 2 maps. Dec. 190 1. 85c. cloth. 
> I Dickinson, H. T. Quarries of Bluestone and Other Sandstones in New 

York. ii4p. i8pl. 2 maps. Mar. 1903. 35c. 
85 Rafter, G. W. Hydrology of New York State. 90 2p. il. 44pl. 5 maps. 

May 1905. $1.50, cloth. 
93 Newland, D. H. Mining and Quarry Industry of New York. ySp. 

July 1905. Out of print. 
100 McCourt, W. E. Fire Tests of Some New York Building Stones. 4op. 

26pl. Feb. 1906. 15c. 
102 Newland, D. H. Mining and Quarry Industry of New York 1905. 

i62p. June 1906. 25c 
112 Mining and Quarry Industry of New York 1.906. 82p. July 

1907. Out of print. 

119 & Kemp, J. F. Geology of the Adirondack Magnetic Iron Ores 

with a Report on the Mineville-Port Henry Mine Group. i84p. i4pl. 
8 maps. Apr. 1908. 35c. 

120 Newland, D. H. Mining and Quarry Industry of New York 1907. 82p. 
July 1908. 15c. 

123 & Hartnagel, C. A. Iron Ores of the Clinton Formation in New 

York State. 76p. il. i4pl. 3 maps. Nov. 1908. 250. 
132 Newland, D. H. Mining and Quarry Industry of New York 1908. 98p. 

July 1909. 15c. 
142 Mining and Quarry Industry of New York for 1909. 98p. Aug. 

1 9 10. Not available. 

143 Gypsum Deposits of New York. 94p. 2opl. 4 maps. Oct. 1910. 35c. 

151 Mining and Quarry Industry of New York 1910. 82p. June 191 1. 15c. 

161 MiningandQuarrylndustry of New York 1911. Ii4p. July 1912. 20c. 

166 Mining and Quarry Industry of New York 1912. ii4p. Aug. 1913. 

20c. 
174 ■ Mining and Quarry Industry of New York 1913. I lip. Dec. 1914. 

20c. 

178 Mining and Quarry Industry of New York 1914. 88p. Nov. 1915. 15c. 

181 The Quarry Materials of New York. 2i2p. 34 pi. Jan. 1916. 40c. 

Mineralogy. 4 Nason, F. L. Some New York Minerals and Their Localities. 

2 2p. I pi. Aug. 1888. Free. 
58 Whitlock, H. P. Guide to the Mineralogic Collections of the New York 

State Museum. i5op. il. 39pl. 11 models. Sept. 1902. 40c. 

70 New York Mineral Localities, nop. Oct. 1903. 20c. 

98 Contributions from the Mineralogic Laboratory. 38p. 7pl. Dec. 

1905. Out of .print. 
Zoology. I Marshall, W. B. Preliminary List of New York Unionidae. 

2op. Mar. 1892. Not available. 
9 Beaks of Unionidae Inhabiting the Vicinity of Albany, N. Y. 30 p. 

ipl. Aug. 1890. Free. 
29 Miller, G. S., jr. Preliminary List of New York Mammals. i24p. Oct. 

1899. 15c. 
33 Farr, M. S. Check List of New York Birds. 224P. Apr. 1900. 25c. 
38 Miller, G. S., jr. Key to the Land Mammals of Northeastern North 

America. io6p. Oct. 1900. 15c. 
40 Simpson, G. B. Anatomy and Physiology of Polygyra albolabris and 

Limax maximus and Embryology of Limax maximus. 82p. 2 8pl. Oct. 

igoi. 25c. 
43 Kellogg. J. L. Clam and Scallop Industries of New York. 36p. 2pl. 

map. Apr. 1901. Free. 
51 Eckel, E. C. & Paulmier, F. C. Catalogue of Reptiles and Batrachians 

of New York. 64P- il- ipl- Apr. 1902. ' Out of print. 

Eckel, E. C. Serpents of Northeastern United States. 

Paulmier, F. C. Lizards. Tortoises and Batrachians of New York. 

60 Bean, T. H. Catalogue of the Fishes of New York. 784P. Feb. 1903 
$1, cloth. 



MUSEUM PUBLICATIONS 

71 Kellogg, J. L. Feeding Habits and Growth of Venus mercenaria. 3op. 
4pl. Sept. 1903. Free. 

88 Letson, Elizabeth J. Check List of the Mollusca of New York. ii6p. 

May 1905. 20c. 
91 Paulmier, F. C. Higher Crustacea of New York City. 78p. il. June 

1905. 20c. 
130 Shufeldt, R. W. Osteology of Birds. 382P, il. 26pl. May 1909. 50c. 
Entomology. 5 Lintner, J. A. White Grub of the May Beetle. 34p. il. 

Nov. 1888. Free. 

6 Cut-worms. 38p. il. Nov. 1888. Free. 

13 San Jos6 Scale and Some Destruc.tive Insects of New York State. 

54p. 7P1- Apr. 1895. ISC 
20 Felt, E. P. Elm Leaf Beetle in New York State. 46p. il. spl. June 

1898. Free. 

See ST. 

23 14th Report of the State Entomologist 1898. 150P. il. gp\. Dec. 

1898. 20c. 
24 Memorial of the Life and Entomologic Work of J. A. Lintner, Ph.D. 

State Entomologist 1874-98; Index to Entomologist's Reports 1-13. 3i6p. 

ipl. Oct. 1899. 35c. 

Supplement to 14th report of the State Entomologist. 

26 Collection, Preservation and Distribution of New York Insects 

36p. il. Apr. 1899. Out of print. 

27 Shade Tree Pests in New York State. 2 6p. il. 5pl. May 1899. 

Free. 

31 15th Report of the State Entomologist 1899. i28p. June 1900. 

15c. 
36 1 6th Report of the State Entomologist 1900. ii8p. i6pl. Mar. 

1901. 25c. 
37 Catalogue of Some of the More Important Injurious and Beneficial 

Insects of New York State. 54p. il. Sept. 1900. Free. 

46 Scale Insects of Importance and a List of the Species in New York 

State. 94p. il. i5pl. June 190 1. 25c. 

47 Needham, J. G. & Betten, Cornelius. Aquatic Insects in the Adiron- 
dacks. 234p. il. 36pl. Sept. 190 1. 45c. 

S3 Felt, E. P. 17th Report of the State Entomologist 1901. 232P. il. 6pl. 

Aug. 1902. Out of print. 
57 Elm Leaf Beetle in New York State. 46p. il. 8pl. Aug. 1902. 

Out of print. 

This is a revision of Bulletin 20 containing the more essential facts observed since that 
was prepared. 

S9 Grapevine Root Worm. 4op. 6pl. Dec. 1902. Not available. 

See 72. 
64 i8th Report of the State Entomologist 1902. nop. 6pl. May 

1903. 20C. 

68 Needham, J. G. & others. Aquatic Insects in New York. 322p. 52pl. 
Aug. 1903. 80c, cloth. 

72 Felt, E. P. Grapevine Root Worm. 58p. i3pl. Nov. 1903. 20c. 
This is a revision of Bulletin 59 containing the more essential facts observed since that 

was prepared. 

74 & Joutel, L. H. Monograph of the Genus Saperda. 88p. i4p]. 

June 1904. 25c. 
76 Felt, E. P. 19th Report of the State Entomologist 1903. i5op. 4pl. 

1904. 15c. 

79 Mosquitos or Culicidae of New York. 164P. il. 57pl. tab. Oct. 

1904. 40c. 
86 Needham, J. G. & others. May Flies and Midges of New York. 3 52p. 

il. 37pl. June 1905. Out of print. 
97 Felt, E. P. 20th Report of the State Entomologist 1904. 246p. il. i9pl. 



Nov. 



'905 



103 Gipsy and Brown Tail Moths. 44p. lopl. July 1906. 15c 



THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 



104 2ist Report of the State Entomologist 1905. i44p- lopl. Aug 

1906. 25c. 

109 Tussock Moth and Elm Leal Beetle. 34p. 8pl. Mar. 1907. 20c. 

no 22d Report of the State Entomologist 1906. 152P. 3pl. June 

1907. 25c. 

124 23d Report of the State Entomologist 1907. 542P. il. 44pl. Oct. 

1908. 75c. 

129 Control of Household Insects. 48?- il- May 1909. Out of print. 

134 24th Report of the State Entomologist 1908. 2o8p. il. i7pl. 

Sept. 1909. 3SC. 
136 Control of Flies and Other Household Insects. 56p. il. Feb. 

1910. 15c. 

This is a revision of Bulletin ."129 containing the more essential facts observed since 
that was prepared. 

141 Felt, E. P. 25th Report of the State Entomologist 1909. i78p. il. 2 2pl. 

July 1 9 10. Not available. 
147 26th Report of the State Entomologist 1910. i82p. il 35pl. Mar. 

1911. 35c. 

155 27th Report of the State Entomologist 191 1. iQSp. il. 27pl. Jan. 

1912. 40c. 

156 Elm Leaf Beetle and White-Marked Tussock Moth. 35p. Bpl. Jan. 

1912. 20c. 
165 28th Report of the State Entomologist 1912. 266p. i4pl. July 1913. 

40c. 

175 29th Report of the State Entomologist 1913. 258 p. 16 pi. Apr. 

1915. 45c. 

180 30th Report of the State Entomologist 1914. 336p. il. 19 pi. Jan. 

1916. 50c. 

Needham, J, G; Monograph on Stone Flies. In preparation. 

Botany. 2 Peck, C. H. Contributions to the Botany of the State of New 

York. 72p. 2pl. May 1887. 20c. 

8 Boleti of the United States. 98p. 

25 — ' — Report of the State Botanist 1898. 

print. 

28 Plants of North Elba. 20 6p. map. 

54 Report of the State Botanist 1901. 

67 Report of the State Botanist 1902. 

75 Report of the State Botanist 1903. 

94 Report of the State Botanist 1904. 

105 Report of the State Botanist 1905. 

116 Report of the State Botanist 1906. 

122 Report of the State Botanist 1907. 

131 Report of the State Botanist 1908. 

139 Report of the State Botanist 1909. 

150 Report of the State Botanist 19 10. 

157 Report of the State Botanist 191 1. 

167 Report of the State Botanist 1912. 

176 Report of the State Botanist 1913. 

179 Report of the State Botanist 1914. 

Archeology. 16 Beauchamp, W. M. Aboriginal Chipped Stone Implements 

of New York. 86p. 23pl. Oct. 1897. Not available. 

18 Polished Stone Articles Used by the New York Aborigines. io4p. 

35pl. Nov. 1897. 25c. 

Earthenware of the New York Aborigines. 78p. 33pl. Oct. 1898. 

Aboriginal Occupation of New York. 190P. i6pl. 2 maps. Mar. 
30c. 

Wampum and Shell Articles Used by New York Indians. i66p. 
Mar. 1901. Out of print. 

Horn and Bone Implements of the New York Indians. ir2p. 43pl. 
902. Out of print. 



Sept. 1889. 


Out of print. 


76p. 5pl. ' 


Oct. 1899. 


Out 0} 


June 1899 


. 20c. 




58p. 7pl. 


Nov. 1902. 


40c. 


196P. 5pl. 


May 1903. 


50c. 


7op. 4pl- I 


904. 40c. 




6op. lopl. 


July 1905. 


40c. 


io8p. I2pl. 


Aug. 1906. 


50c. 


I20p. 6pl. 


July 1907. 


35c. 


178P. 5pl. 


Aug. 1 90S. 


40c. 


202p. 4pl. 


July 1909. 


40c. 


ii6p. lopl. 


May 1910. 


45c. 


loop. 5pl. 


May 1911. 


30c. 


14OP. 9Pl. 


Mar. 191 2. 


35c. 


iSSp. 4pl. 


Sept. 1913. 


3CC. 


78p. I7pl. 


June 1915., 


20c. 


io8p. ipl. 


Dec. 1915. 


20c. 




MUSEUM PUBLICATIONS 

55 Metallic Implements of the New York Indians. 94p. 38pl. June 

1902. 25c. 

73 Metallic Ornaments of the New York Indians. i2 2p. 3 7 pi. Dec. 

1903. Not available. 

78 History of the New York Iroquois. 34op. i7pl. map. Feb. 1905. 

75c. 

87 Perch Lake Mounds. 84p. i2pl. Apr. 1905. 20c. 

89 Aboriginal Use of Wood in New York. 190P. 35pl. June 1905. 

Not available. 

108 Aboriginal Place Names of New York. 336P. May 1907. 40c. 

113 Civil, Religious and Mourning Councils and Ceremonies of Adop- 
tion. ii8p. 7pl. June 1907. 25c. 
117 Parker. A. C. An Erie Indian Village and Burial Site. io2p. 38pl. 

Dec. 1907. 30c. 
125 Converse, H. M. & Parker, A. C. Iroquois Myths and Legends. 196P. 

il. iipl. Dec. 1908. 50c. 
144 Parker, A. C. Iroquois Uses of Maize and Other Food Plants. i2op. 

il. 3ipl. Nov. 1910. Not available. 

163 The Code of Handsome Lake. 144P. 23pl. Nov. 1912. Not available. 

184 The Constitution of the Five Nations. isSp. 8pl. Apr. i, 1916. 30c. 

Miscellaneous. 62 Merrill, F. J. H. Directory of Natural History Museums 

in United States and Canada. 236P. Apr. 1903. 30c. 
66 Ellis, Mary. Index to Publications of the New York State Natural 

History Survey and New York State Museum 1837-1902. 4i8p. June 

1903. 75c, cloth. 

Museum memoirs 1889-date. 4to. 

1 Beechcr, C. E. & Clarke, J. M. Development of Some Silurian Brachi- 
opoda. 96p. 8pl. Oct. 1889. $1. 

2 Hall, James & Clarke, J. M. Paleozoic Reticulate Sponges. 3 Sop. il. 7opl. 
1898. $2, cloth. 

3 Clarke, J. M. The Oriskany Fauna of Becraft Mountain, Columbia Co., 
N. Y. i28p. 9pl. Oct. 1900. 80c. 

4 Peck, C. H. N. Y. Edible Fungi, 1895-99. io6p. 25pl. Nov. 1900. Not 
available. 

This includes revised descriptions and illustrations of fungi reported in the 49th, sist and 

5 2d reports of the State Botanist. 

5 Clarke, J. M. & Ruedemann, Rudolf. Guelph Formation and Fauna of 
New York State. 196P. 2ipl. July 1903. $1.50, cloth. 

6 Clarke, J. M. Naples Fauna in Western New York. 268p. 26pl. map. 

1904. $2, cloth. 

7 Ruedemann, Rudolf. Graptolites of New York. Pt i Graptolites of the 
Lower Beds. 35op. i7pl. Feb. 1905. $1.50, cloth. 

8 Felt, E. P. Insects Affecting Park and Woodland Trees, v.i. 460P. 
i!. 48pJ. Feb. 1906. %2.so, cloth; y. 2. 548p.il.22pl. Feb. 1907. $2, cloth. 

9 Clarke, J. M. Early Devonic of New York ^nd Eastern North America. 
Pt I. 366p. il. 7opl. 5 maps. Mar. 1908. $2.50, cloth; Pt 2. 250P. il. 36pl. 
4 maps. Sept. 1909. $2, cloth. 

10 Eastman, C. R. The Devonic Fishes of the New York Formations. 
236P. i5pl. 1907. $1.25, cloth. 

11 Ruedemann, Rudolf. Graptolites of New York. Pt 2. Graptolites of 
the Higher Beds. 584P. il. 3ipl. 2 tab. Apr. 1908. $2.50, cloth. 

12 Eaton, E. H. Birds of New York. v. i, 5oip. il. 42pl. Apr. 1910. 
$7,, cloth; V. 2, 7i9p. il. 64 pi. July 1914. $4, cloth. 

13 Whitlock, H. P. Calcitesof New York. 190P. il. 27pl. Oct. 1910. $1, cloth. 

14 Clarke, J. M. & Ruedemann, Rudolf. The Eurypterida of New York. v. i. 
Text. 440p. il. v. 2 Plates. i88p. 88pl. Dec. 1912. $4, cloth. 

Natural History of New York. 30 v. il. pi. maps. 4to. Albany 1842-94. 

DIVISION 1 ZOOLOGY. De Kay, James E. Zoology of New York; or, The 
New York Fauna; comprising detailed descriptions of all the animals 
hitherto observed within the State of New York with brief notices of 
those occasionally found near its borders, and accompanied by appropri- 
ate illustrations. 5V. il. pi. maps. sq. 4to. Albany 1842-44. Out of print. 
Historical introduction to the series by Gov. W. H. Seward. X78p. 



THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK 

V. I pti Mammalia. 131 + 46?. 33Pl- T842. 

300 copies with iiand-colored plates 
V. 2 pt2 Birds. 12 + 3809. i4ipl. 1844. 

Colored plates. 
V. 3 pt3 Reptiles and Amphibia. 7 + 98p. pt 4 Fishes. 15 + 4isp. 1842. 

pt 3-4 bound together. 

V. 4 Plates to accompany v. 3. Reptiles and Amphibia. 23pl. Fishes. 
79pl. 1842. 

300 copies with hand-colored plates. 

V. s pt5 Mollusca. 4 + 271P. 4opl. pt 6 Crustacea. 7op. i3pl. 1843-44. 

Hand-colored plates; pt S-6 bound together. 

DIVISION 2 BOTANY. Torrey, John. Flora of the State of New York; com- 
prising full descriptions of all the indigenous and naturalized plants hith- 
erto discovered in the State, with remarks on their economical and medical 
properties. 2 v. il. pi. sq. 4to. Albany 1843. Out of print. 

V. I Flora of the State of New York. 12 -f 484P. 72pl. 1843. 

300 copies with hand-colored plates. 

V. 2 Flora of the State of New York. 572p. Sgpl. 1843. 

300 copies with hand-colored plates. 

DIVISION 3 MINERALOGY. Beck, Lewis C. Mineralogy of New York; com- 
prising detailed descriptions of the minerals hitherto found in the State 
of New York, and notices of their uses in the arts and agriculture, il. pi. 
sq. 4to. Albany 1842. Out of print. 

V. I pti Economical Mineralogy, pt 2 Descriptive Mineralogy. 24 + 536p. 
1842. 

8 plates additional to those printed as part of the text. 

DIVISION 4 GEOLOGY. Mather, W. W. ; Emmons, Ebenezer; Vanuxem, Lard- 
ner & Hall, James. Geology of New York. 4V. il. pi. sq. 4to. Albany 
1842-43. Out of print. 

V. I pti Mather, W. W. First Geological District. 37 + 653P. 46pl. 1843. 

V. 2 pt2 Emmons, Ebenezer. Second Geological District. 10 -f- 43 7p. 
i7pl. 1842. 

V. 3 pt3 VanUxem, Lardner. Third Geological District. 3o6p. 1842. 

V. 4 pt4 Hall, James. Fourth Geological District. 22 -f 683P. igpl. 
map. 1843. 

DIVISION 5 AGRICULTURE. Emmons, Ebenezer. Agriculture of New York; 
comprising an account of the classification, composition and distribution 
of the soils and rocks and the natural waters of the different geological 
formations, together with a condensed view of the meteorology and agri- 
cultural productions of the State. 5v. il. pi. sq. 4to. Albany 1846-54. 
Out of print. 

V. I Soils of the State, Their Composition and Distribution. 11 4- 371P. 2ipl. 
1.846. 

V. 3 Analysis of Soils, Plants, Cereals, etc. 8 -1- 343 + 46p 42pl 1849. 

With hand-colored plates. 

V. 3 Fruits, etc. 8 -F 340?. 1851. 

V. 4 Plates to accompany v. 3. 95pl. 1851. 

Hand-colored. 

V. 5 Insects Injurious to Agriculture. 8 -f- 272P. 5opl. 1854. 

With hand-colored plates. 

DIVISION 6 PALEONTOLOGY. Hall, James. Paleontology of New York. 8v. 

il. pi. sq. 4to. Albany 1847-94. Bound in cloth. 
v. I Organic Remains of the Lower Division of the New York System. 

23 + 33 8p. 99pl. 1847. Out of print. 
v. 2 Organic Remains of Lower Middle Division of the New York System. 

8 -i- 362P. io4pl. 1852. Out of print. 
V. 3 Organic Remains of the Lower Helderberg Group and the Oriskany 

Sandstone, pt i, text. 12 4- 532p. 1859. [$3.50] 
pt 2. I42pl. 1861. [$2.50] 



'•4 



MUSEUM PUBLICATIONS 

V. 4 Fossil Brachiopoda of the Upper Helderberg, Hamilton, Portage and 
Chemung Groups, ii + i + 428p. 69pl. 1867. S2.50. 

pti Lamellibranchiata i. Monomyaria of the Upper Helderberg, 
tamilton and Chemung Groups. 18 + 268p. 45pl- 1884. $2.50. 
Lamellibranchiata 2. Dimyaria of the Upper Helderberg, Ham- 
ilton, Portage and Chemung Groups. 62 + 293P. 5ipl. 1885. $2.50. 
pt2 Gasteropoda, Pteropoda and Cephalopoda of the Upper Helder- 
berg, Hamilton, Portage and Chemung Groups. 2V. 1879. v. i, text. 
15 + 492p.; V. 2. i2opl. $2.50 for 2 v. 

& Simpson, George B. v. 6 Corals and Bryozoa of the Lower and Up- 
per Helderberg and Hamilton Groups. 24 + 298P. 67pl. 1887. $2.50. 

& Clarke, John M. v. 7 Trilobites and Other Crustacea of the Oris- 

kany. Upper Helderberg, Hamilton, Portage, Chemung and Catskill 
Groups. 64 + 236P. 46pl. 1888. Cont. supplement to V. 5, pt 2. Ptero- 
poda, Cephalopoda and Annelida. 42p. i8pl. 1888. $2.50. 

& Clarke, John M. v. 8 pt i Introduction to the Study of the Genera 

of the Paleozoic Brachiopoda. 16 + 367P. 44pl. 1892. $2.50. 

& Clarke, John M. v. 8 pt 2 Paleozoic Brachiopoda. 16 + 394P. 64pl 

1894. $2.50. 

Catalogue of the Cabinet of Natural History of the State of New York and 
of the Historical and Antiquarian Collection annexed thereto. 242P. Svo. 
1853. Out of print. 

Handbooks 1893-date. 

New York State Museum. 52p. il. 1902. Free. 

Outlines, history and work of the museum with list of staff 1902. 

Paleontology. i2p. 1899. Out of pnnt. 

Brief outline of State Museum work in paleontology under heads: Definition; Relation to 
biology; Relation to stratigraphy; History of paleontology in New York. 

Guide to Excursions in the FossiHferous Rocks of New York. i24p. 1899. 
Free. 

Itineraries of 3 2 trips covering nearly the entire series of Paleozoic rocks, prepared specially 
for the use of teachers and students desiring to acquaint themselves more intimately with the 
classic rocks of this State. 

Entomology. i6p. 1899. Out of print. 

Economic Geology. 44p. 1904. Free. 

Insecticides and Fungicides. 2op. 1909. Free. 

Classification of New York Series of Geologic Formations. 32p. 1903. Out 

of print. Revised edition. gGp. 1912. Free. 
Geologic maps. Merrill, F. J. H. Economic and Geologic Map of the 

State of New York; issued as part of Museum Bulletin 15 and 48th Museum 

Report, V. i. 59 x 67 cm. 1894. Scale 14 miles to i inch. 15c. 
Map of the State of New York Showing the Location of Quarries of 

Stone Used for Building and Road Metal. 1897. Out of print. 
Map of the State of New York Showing the Distribution of the Rocks 

Most Useful for Road Metal. 1897. Otit of print. 

Geologic Map of New York. 1901. Scale ^ miles to i inch. In atlas 

form $2. Lower Hudson sheet 60c. 

The lower Hudson sheet, geologically colored, comprises Rockland, Orange, Dutchess, 
Putnam, Westchester, New York, Richmond, Kings, Queens and -Nassau counties, and parts 
of Sullivan, Ulster and Suffolk counties; also northeastern New Jersey and part of western 
Connecticut. 

Map of New York Showing the Surface Configuration and Water Sheds. 

1 90 1. Scale 12 miles to i inch. 15c. 

Map of the State of New York Showing the Location of Its Economic 

Deposits. 1904. Scale 12 miles to i inch. 15c. 

Geologic maps on the United States Geological Survey topographic base. 
Scale I in. = I m. Those marked with an asterisk have also been pub- 
lished separately. 

*Albany county. 1898. Out of print. 

Area around Lake Placid. 1898. 

Vicinity of Frankfort Hill [parts of Herkimer and 'Oneida counties]. 1899 



<^^, 



8^ 



THE UNIVERSITY OF THE STATE OF NEV/ YORK 



Rockland county. 1899. 

Amsterdam quadrangle. 1900. 

*Parts of Albany and Rensselaer counties, njoi. Out of print, 

*Niagara river. 1901. 25c. 

Part of Clinton county. 1901. 

Oyster Bay and Hempstead quadrangles on Long Island. 1901 

Portions of Clinton and Essex counties. 1902. 

Part of town of Northumberland, Saratoga co. 1903- 

Union Springs, Cayuga county and vicinity. 1903. 

*01ean quadrangle. 1903. Free. 

*Becraft Mt. with 2 sheets of sections. (Scale i in. = ^ m.) 1903. 

*Canandaigua-Naples quadrangles. 1904. 20c. 

♦Little Falls quadrangle. 1905. Free. 

*Watkins-Elmira quadrangles. 1905. 20c. 

*Tully quadrangle. 1905. Free. 

*Salamanca quadrangle. 1905. Free. 

*Mooers quadrangle. 1905. Free. 

Paradox Lake quadrangle. 1905- 

♦Buffalo quadrangle. 1906. Free. 

*Penn Yan-Hammondsport quadrangles. 1906. 20c. 

*Rochester and Ontario Beach quadrangles. 20c. 

*Long Lake quadrangle. Free. 

*Nunda-Pr)rtage quadrangles. 20c. 

♦Remsen quadrangle. 1908. Free. 

*Geneva-Ovid quadrangles. 1909. 20c. 

*Port Leyden quadrangle. 1910. Free. 

*Aubum-Genoa quadrangles. 1910. 20c. 

*Elizabethtown and Port Henry quadrangles. 1910. 15c. 

♦Alexandria Bay quadrangle. 1910. Free. 

*Cape Vincent quadrangle. 1910. Free. 

♦Clayton quadrangle. 19 10. Free. 

♦Grindstone quadrangle. 19 10. Free. 

♦Theresa quadrangle. 1910. Free. 

♦Poughkeepsie quadrangle. 1911. Free. 

♦Hon eoye-Wayland quadrangles. 191 1. 20c. 

♦Broadalbin quadrangle. 191 1. Free. 

♦Schenectady quadrangle. 191 1. Free. 

♦Saratoga-Schuyleiville quadrangles. 1914. 20c. 

♦North Creek quadrangle. 1914. Free. 

♦Syracuse quadrangle. 1914. Free. 

♦Attica-Depew quadrangles. 1914. 20c. 

*Lake Pleasant quadrangle. 1916. Free. 

*Saratoga quadrangle. 191 6. Free. 



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